The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-11 00:00:00

Commence at 7.

DELPHI, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL.
6,1 c rroprietor and Manner, Mr. Bcnj. Webster.
Last SiT Nights of Mr. and Mrs. A. Wigan.
Seventh week of the celebra' ed American Actress, Miss Julia
Daly.
THIS VENING to commence with IT'S AN ILL WIND
THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD. Messrs. Alfred Wigan,
J. L. Toole, Stuart, Billington, C. J. Smith, Ward, Mrs. A.
Wigan, and Miss 11. Simms..
To be followed by A MODEL OF A WIFE. Messrs. A
Wigan, Toole, Miss K. Kelly.
After which, OUR FEMALE AMERICAN COUSIN.
Messrs. Stuart, C. Selby, Hillingdon, Eburne, Miss Julia
Daly, K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and Mrs. Chatterley.
Box-office open from 10 till 5.
Private boxes, £2 2s. ; Family Boxes, £l.
Orchestra Stalls, 55. ; Balcony, 4s. ; Front Circle Stalls, Ss.;
Pit Stalls, 2s. ; Pit, ls. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, is ; Gallery, 6d.
Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith.

FRENCH PLAYS-ST. JAMES'S THEATRE,
Directeur, M. Talexy.—Lessee, Mr. F. B. Chatterton.
EVERY EVENING.
Positively the last appearance of M. Brindeau
THIS EVENING, and list time of LA TENTATION.
Mdlle. DIIVERGER.— M. BRINDEAIT.
Orchestra Stalls, 75. 6d. ; Balcony Stalls, 55.; Pit, 28.
Gallery, 15

Private Boxes, from Two Guineas.

A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.-
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. WM. BATTY.

THIS EVENING,

Entire Change. Production of a Grand Historical Hippo-
Drama on a scale of Great Magnificence. Varied Novelties
in the Scenes of the Arena. On Monday, June 11, 1860, and
during the week, the Entertainments will commence with a
deeply-interesting and splendid spectacle in Three Acts,
entitled "FAIR ROSAMOND, or the AMAZON CRUSADERS."
I'roduced with entirely new and magnificent scenery, costly
costumes, and appointments. To be succeeded by the Scenes
of the Cirque, supported by the most talenied British and
Continental Artistes in the World. Concluding with a
Laughable Farce.
The magnificent Chandeliers manufactured by Messrs. De-
ities and Sons, of Houndsditch.
Door s open at half-past 6, performance commence at 7.
Box-office open daily from 11 till 4.
Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST.
Director of the Arena—M. Felix Revolti.

CA NTERB UR Y HALL
THIS EVENING.
C. H. GOUNFA UST. OD'S OPERA,
first Time in this Country.
Faust Mr. Henry Herbert.
Mephistopheles Mr. C: Bernard.
Siobel Mrs. Anderson.
Marguerite ..... Miss Russell.
Conductor Mr. Jonghmans.
And selections from
Dinorah, Trovatore, Macbeth, and numerous other
Entertainments. •
Balcony, 15, Hall. Ed.
Comic Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come-
dian and Mimic), and W. T. Critchtleld.
The AFRICAN OPERA T itOUPE, their first appearance
since 1852, consisting of ELEVEN STAR PERFORMERS,
who will give the whole of their inimitable entertainment
every evening.
The gallery is open from 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening.

CONCERTS.--

THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, JUNE 10, 1860.

THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
54—highest since noon yesterday.
50—lowest this morning and during the night.
56—this day at noon.
BAROMETER-29.69.

; light, with dull, rainy weather, and
fitful heavy showers ; fine weather in the evening.

JUNE 11.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHAME.
62—highest since noon yesterday.
47—lowest this morning and during the night.
6.s—this day at noon. _ _

BAROMETER-29.90.

WlND—South•Westerly ; light, with heavy, cloudy
weather. It was sultry for an hour or two about noon.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

This DAT.—Morning, 6h. 52m.—Afternoon, 7h. 16m.
To-moßßow.-Morning, 7h. 40m.—Afternoon, Bh. 7m.

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THE SUN.
LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1860.

if the Reform Bill for England, as well as for
Scotland and Ireland, be laid aside for the ses-
sion, whom shall we blamed ? First, we say,
Ministers, and next the Opposition. One for dis-
graceful obstruction, in opposition to the declared
wishes of its only competent leader—the other
for not putting a stop to the discreditable tactics
of the shabby Liberals and rancorous Tories.

There can be no doubt that had the Cabinet
agreed that the bill should pass, and that they
would, like CROMWELL, "stand no nonsense," they
were in a position to carry their measure. But
CROM WELLS are not to be found in England just now.
Sicily could furnish us with one, but she wants
him herself, and we must not expect perhaps of our
Premier, or of our Foreign Secretary, that they
should show as much decision at home as abroad.
They ought to do it. They ought to give us a
little of the benefit of speaking like freemen. They
ought not to have introduced a Reform Bill at all
unless they intended to make it the measure of a
standing or a falling Ministry. As soon' as they
saw the shabby scheme of faithless Whigs and
hostile Tories;they had an easy course before them,
and one which would have conciliated for them
the respect of this country and of the
world. They had but to tell the House that they
were pledged to carry the Bill this session
—that if requisite the House would sit much
longer to do so—that if rejected by either Lords
or Commons they should appeal to the country—
and we should have been as for ward now with the
Reform Bill as with the Budget, perhaps more so.

This, then, is the charge against Ministers, that
they did not let factious members know that the
consequences of obstruction must fall on their own
heads. It was soon apparent that the present Par-
liament must have another year of it, because the
registration could not be made under the new
bill in time for an election by the enlarged
constituencies. Members would therefore have
felt that they must bear the penalty of
one election at least the more if they persisted in a
new time-wasting opposition ; also that they would
incur the penalty of interfering with the pleasures
of the shooting season—both arguments weighing
muck more, we fear, with many of our legislators
than any considerations of public business.
48 to the opposition, we must repeat that we
etmlaider.it about the meanest which has ever dis-
graced a great party. There was the manly course
open to if, of rejecting the bill on the motion for the
N:-cond reading. That would have been worthy
of a great party if it could find grounds to justify
itself on the pi inciples of the bill, but to delay the
business of the country by six precious nights of
empty talk on' he second reading, when they dared
not propose a v, ue against it. this was—paltry. It
'was unworthy, of English Gentlemen. And we
believe no deba tee can be found -within our recollec-
tion ;n which so. many words:were uttered with such
a minimum of information or of argument in them.
Time enough ,was, spent in this way to have almo'st
got the th rough committee, and it was intended
it should be 4106 Garrulity was specially invoked
to clog the wl reels of business. If we blame the
GoVernment To re -want of manly decision,—for not
administering t be political birch for this truancy

of tongue, we must much more blame those who
could avail themselves of such methods to resist
Reform.

To us it seems as if Toryism intended now to
ride roughshod over the country. If any two
things were considered settled, one was that the
House of Commons had the sole charge of the taxa-
tion of the country, the other, that we were to
have a Reform Bill this year. Toryism. has
rudely kicked over both the old principle and the
modern expectation. But what does all this mean ?
Why do lords almost imperil the existence of their
House, and their great party in the Commons dis-
grace itself by conduct worthy only of a small and
factious minority ? There must be in their view
something serious at stake to make both noble lords
and the Opposition in the Commons so utterly
reckless of all order and decency. We believe their
object is not far to seek. They dread any rea
extension of popular power. On more closely
scrutinising the Reform Bill, they think it will
really strengthen the Liberal party—that public
opinion will have more weight in the House of
Commons, and be proportionally more difficult for
the Lords to encounter. The Ballot and a fairer
distribution of seats trey will not even hear of,
simply because they would give a fair and honest
expression of the public mind. The present Reform
Bill they dread, not perhaps because they see
very much direct mischief to Toryism in it,
but because it will lead, they think, to other and
more important demands, they are determined
therefore to try what can be done by resisting the
just demands of the people.
On the taxation question it is the same. The
House of Lords shudders at the idea of impending
equal taxation—the feudal exemptions of its class
would, if abolished, almost save us the need of an
income tax, of even a tenpenny one; but their
order and class have become so accustomed to be
spared, that they consider their exemptions almost
in the light of property, and regard equal taxation as
confiscation. Let them, however,beware. The country
has made no intimidating demonstration either on the
subject of Reform, or on that of taxation—simply
because their legislators seemed to promise pretty
well on both. Toryism may, however, find itself
mistaken in calculating on public apathy. While
the Continent is advancing in liberty and equality,
Englishmen will not be content to stand still,
much less to go back. To be first refused the
repeal of a tax by our House of lrresponsibles,
and then a most moderate Reform Bill—one made
only to pass—by their eldest sons and their party
in the Commons, may well prove more than the
country will put up with. They are fond enough
of denouncing Mr. BRIGIIT as a revolutionist—but
he will certainly retort on them the charge in his
inter-sessional orations, with telling illustrations
furnished by themselves.

We trust Sir G. C. LEWIS will have the good
sense to abandon his objectionable proposals in re-
gard to the religious census. The meeting of last
week, as well as the deputation to the Premier,
ought to convince him that he will meet with more
resistance than will be welcome to him from many
determined members of Parliament, besides that of
an energetic portion of the public. The last state-
ment of the Home Secretary in the House of
Commons was,. that he was willing to give up, if he
must do so, the penalty to be obtained summarily
by any informer for not giving a correct answer to
the personal interrogatory, What is your profes-
sion ? and to the vicarious one, What is the creed
of the members of your household ? It seems to
have been this last declaration which led to the
highly-respectable meeting, convened by circular,
at Rendall's Hotel, with Sir MORTON PETO in the
chair, besides 15 members of Parliament, and a con-
siderable number of gentlemen of great influence in
their respective circles. The intention was, evi-
dently, not to attempt anything of the Hyde-park
kind, but to show the Home Secretary that gentle-
men, to whom the present Government, and all
Liberal Governments are so largely indebted for
support, are immoveably hostile to his plan. Un-
less, therefore, he can pretend that his new columns
are a matter of principle with him, it will come to
this—do you mean to quarrel with the cordial sup-
porters of your Government on a question of detail
to which you ar3 in no way pledged, but on which
they have feelings and opinions you cannot possi-
bly change.
We have already expressed our strong distaste
for the scheme of the Home Secretary, and felt
pretty sure that Dissenters would especially resent
interrogatories which, as we showed, were designed
to exhibit them ina disparaging light. And we were
not mistaken. Besides the late meeting, we have
just received a circular, with the resolutions there
passed, signed by twenty-one members of Parlia-
ment—exactly the Ministerial majority of Thurs-
day night—and about the same number of well-
known and highly-respectable Dissenters, announc•
ing a public meeting for Tuesday (to-morrow)
evening, at the Freemasons' Hall. We entirely
concur with these gentlemen. Like one of the
speakers at the meeting, we should be tempted if
the Census Inquisitor came to us with the question,
What is your religious belief or profession ? to say,
" You impudent fellow, what is that to you." Mr.
JAMES WYLD, M.P,, also remarked, what had not
occurred to us before, that it might become the
means of a system of proselytism in the public ser-
vice and amongst Government employees. This
would be far from impossible. We know no reason
why a High Churchman, the highest of the high, a
BERESFORD HOPE for instance, if other wise qualified,
should not be a Minister presiding over a great
department. At present, and properly, the Minis-
ter knows nothing of the creed of the subordinates ;
what is that to him, or to any one ? But how easy
would it be to intimidate men whose bread de-
pended on his favour into writing themselves Church-
men when they were conscientious Dissenters.

Apart from all this, nothing could reconcile us to
such un -English catechising respecting our creed.
With the penalty abolished, the whole thing left to
the enumerator, the refusal of some, the fraudulent
entries of households and public institutions by
their heads if men of any strong bias, and many other
causes, the whole thing would be quite fallacious,
and utterly wanting in the grand essential of
statistics—accuracy. It would not be even an ap-
proximately accurate return.

Whatever may be in store for us in the future in
regard to our foreign relations, however threaten-
ing the political situation may appear, undoubtedly
does appear in various parts of the European conti-
nent—we have, at any rate, the satisfaction here in
England of remembering we are by no means un-
prepared for any emergency. England, in fact, has
for a long while Fast been on the qui rive!
We have long since rubbed the rust off our armour,
and if the Baltic Fleet did no other good
service, it at least awakened us vividly to
the necessity of sharpening our cutlasses.
The Crimean war, moreover, came to us more than
a lustre back full of wholesome warning. It showed
us our weak points— the ahinks in our mail—every
flaw and blemish in our military organisation. We
have been profitting from that timely lesson ever
since. Our Commissariat arrangements have been
overhauled from beginning to end, Our hospital

system has undergone (thanks chiefly to Miss
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE) a total transformation.
We know something now about the advantages
accruing from the proper use of the ambulance as
an auxiliary—a subject upon which our authori-
ties appear to have been hitherto so unenlightened,
that each one amongst them was little better than
the veriest purblind ignoramus. Associated
with our military corps in the field we have now
in time of actual hostility two other corps unknown
to our fighting forefathers, but never likely to be
disbanded by our posterity—the land transport
corps and the naval brigade in which our light-
heeled, nimble-handed Jacks show their aptitude
in doing the grim work of battle as readily and
vigorously ashore as ever they have been known to
do it on board a ship—adding to their old historic re-
nown a new one of a most amphibious character.
Hard upon the heels of all these strange modifi-
cations and transformations in the two great arms
of the Public War-Service—has appeared within
the last twelvemonths that grand movement among
our population that has furnished England, for the
first time, with a veritable National Guard. It is
no longer to her sparsely scattered militia and
yeomanry that the old country looks now for her
defence in the event of invasion—any more
than it is in the efficiency of her eccentric wis-
dom of Martello towers, that she places any
peculiar reliance. Her bulwarks are, first
of all, her wooden walls—manned with
her hearts of oak. And, within the girdle of her
white cliffs, equally distributed over the whole
island—" ready, aye ready," in the midst of her in-
habitants—prepared at any summons to start forth
fully armed, skilled in the use of the deadly rifle,
admirably drilled and disciplined—England has
already her 100,000 volunteers ! She has her
Channel Fleet. She has her regular army perpetu-
ally advancing more or less gradually along the
path of improvement. Promotion is going there
already rather by merit than by interest or pur-
chase —save only now and then in the instance of
a Privy Purse K.C.8., or a new Court-Plaister
in the shape of a comfortable sinecure Colonelcy.
Wherever there is a rotten gunboat we are sure
to find it out and to take securities for its substitute
being effectually kyanised. The application of the
screw-propeller to our men-of-war has grown long
since to be—what it ought, and in reason to have
been years ago, what years and years ago we re-
solutely insisted it should be--the rule instead of
the exception. The national defences, in fact, in
lieu of being neglected are now zealously and strenu-
ously cared for. Could his grace the late and great
Duke of WELLINGTON but roturn amongst us now
for awhile, he would find considerably less reason
(to say the very least of it) for those patriotic feel-
ings of dismay as to our general insecurity from
invasion which were known to have seriously
clouded and embittered his last days. The indif-
ference of forty years' duration has passed away,
giving place on all hands to the most generous and
enlightened solicitude as to the efficiency of our
defences. In the height of one of those earlier
panics, which, seeing their happy results,
we can hardly now regret in sober serious-
ness, Sir FRANCIS BOND HEAD, wrote a
big book, demonstrative of what had un-
til then been only occasionally suspected
namely, the glaring and deplorable insecurity of
these islands from the chances of invasion, A sup-
plementary volume from the pen of the clever old
baronet won't.: at this moment be, we are quite cer•
taro, very generally acceptable—a volume record-
ing what has since been accomplished in the way
of rendering our island fortress impregnable.
" Much has," within that interval, " been done" un-
doubtedly—" but," continuing the familiar Shak-
sperian quotation, we may assuredly add " more," far
more "remains to do." A glimpse of how much more
—in one single direction, in the direction that is to
say of England's metropolis—has just been afforded
by an ingenious engineering theorist in the current
number of Mr. THACKERAY'S Co 7 nhill Magazine.
To those among our readers who may not yet have
glanced at the paper to which we are now directing
particular attention, we would earnestly commend
the perusal of it. They will there learn, in a
few :startling pages, illustrated by an admirable
diagram, how effectually and with what facility, if we
but set about in it earnest and, as the sailors say,
" with a will," London might be made the
stronghold of this island-home of Liberty. The
Ministry that should realise such a project as this,
while judiciously regulating the general develop-
ment of the national defences in all the various
departments—would do more genuine service to
the population and to our posterity than by the
negotiation of a dozen Sham Treaties of Commerce,
by the introduction of a score of Poor Little Bills in
the name of Reform, or by the blowing of a him-
dred Bubble Budgets from the lips of a Ciceronian
Chancellor of the Exchequer.