The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-19 00:00:00

felt ourselves compelled to unsheathe the
sword against those with whom we would
fain cultivate the most friendly relations.
But feelings of honour and self-respect might
have compelled the deplorable sacrifice. We could
not continue to submit patiently to a series of
insults that must have degraded us from the posi-
tion which we have hitherto occupied in the scale
of nations, and for ever forfeited the prestige
which every true-hearted Englishman will main-
tain with his last shilling and last drop of his
blood.

But although the political atmosphere has been
so greatly cleared by the patriotic decision of the
Democratic National Convention at Cincinnati,
we cannot conceal from ourselves that many ele-
ments of disturbance still continue in operation.
We cannot, as yet, speculate on the course which
the successor of General PIERCE may think proper
to adopt in reference to the vexatce qucestiones, or
even what amount of mischief may be effected
during his brief and rapidly waning tenure of
office. We must oppose quiet and temperate
firmness to his aggressions, not abandoning any
of our rights, but forbearing to press them until
the inauguration of his successor in the Presiden-
tial chair. A collision, such as under existing
circumstances may occur at any moment, is
earnestly to be deprecated, and should any such
unhappily take place the utmost care must be
taken that no fault can be imputed to our autho-
rities. The American people have exhibited a
decided manifestation of good-will towards
ourselves by the rejection of General PIERCE, and
we should show that we appreciate and reciprocate
the feeling. From the beginning we have
anticipated and looked for this demonstration on
their part, and we can now look forward more
hopefully to the future of both countries.
We cannot on this account so greatly regret
the abandonment of the motion of which
the Member for Inverness-shire had given notice.
We do not, however, believe that a calm and
temperate discussion of thcr whole question in
Parliament would in any degree have enhanced
the existing dangers. On the contrary, it would
have proved to the people of the United States,
that while determined to preserve our self-respect,
and vigilantly to guard against any blot tarnish-
ing the national escutcheon, it would still be
with the greatest reluctance that we should have
felt ourselves compelled to lift the gage so reck-
lessly and insolently flung down by the PIERCE-
MARCY Government.

The Veteran Comedian of the House of Com-
mons came out in what is technically called "strong
force," on Monday evening. Immediately he ad-
vanced from the left wings (we mean the Treasury
benches) and appeared before the footlights ('hat
is, we should say rather, the green boxes of office)
—there were tho usual evidences of hilarity.
The Farce performed was " The 3,.5001. Vote :
or, The Suspension Bridge in St. James's Park"—
what may be called (Adelphi fashion) a regular
Westminster Screamer. It mattered compara-
tively nothing that the trifle had been formally
"damned" a few nights previously. The thing was
revived (for .me occasion only)—of course at the
particular desire of a certain Gentleman of Dis-
tinction !—and (wonderful to relate, and con-
trary to all known precedent) went off (in spite of
its recent failure) with considerable éclat, in a
tolerably full House, and with au lihle tokens,
moreover, of pretty general approbation. The
cause of all which, doubtless, may be traced to
the very simple device of newly casting the parts,
or at any rate is discoverable at the very least in
the circumstance of the principal character being
for once asiurned by the chief light 'comedian of
the establishment—an actor who in his time
has played many parts, ranging, indeed,
from that of Cupid to that of Pantaloon.
The result, as the penny-a-lining race would
have it, may be " more easily imagined than de-
scribed." Lord PALMERSTON could scarcely open
his lips but what there followed at once—
" laughter," " cheers and laughter," "loud cheers
and laughter." He had merely to wink slyly at
the proceedings of this " 3,5001. vote," and the
House was instantly in convulsions ! Never was
there a more unmistakeable success in absurdity.
Judging of his knoWledge as a student of Human
Nature—[a tolerably large branch of Natural
History of which sufficient examples for the non cc
are furnished, night after night, by the " Natu•
rals " of the House of Commons for the advantage
of any observer who may care to note their cha-
racteristic vagaries and whimsicalities]—Jodging,
we say, of Lord PALMERSTON'S aptitude as a
Naturalist by his skill in dealing with certain
naturals among our representatives we might say
of him as BRASS said of QUILP, with a ludicrous
slip of the tongue, very appropriate in the present
instance, " He's extremely pleasant ! His ac-
quaintance with Natural History too is surprising.
Quite a Buffoon, quite !" At all times " quite
so "—Lord PALMERSToN was " never more so"
than on Monday evening. He fooled his hearers
to the top of their bent. Cracked jokes unnum-
bered. Poked fun at them right and left. Proved,
in fact, a sort of Ministerial illustration of
"Laughter holding both his sides," mean-
ing both sides of the House of Cottamons—
Whig and Tory, or rather, we ought to say more
correctly, Conservative and Nondescript. Inso-
much altogether were the tables turned effectually
by this ingenious device on the part of the
Veteran Comedian, that the farce unmistakeably
"damned" last week was preposterously triumphant
this—" The 3,5001. Vote : or, The Suspension
Bridge in St. James's Park" being announced fur
substantial repetition " as soon as possible," amid
the plaudits of a clear majority of twentysix in a
house of two hundred and twelve. It signified

little that the Right Hon. Member for alai—

the very pink and pattern of good taste, any one
might imagine, judging by his Parliamentary title
alone, to say nothing of the positive evidence to
the same effect afforded by " Vivian Grey" and
and " Coningsby"—it mattered nothing, we re-

peat, that the Right Hon. Member for Bucks

Wisely suggested that the Scheme itself, rather
than the Bridge, should, for a time at least,
he suspended ! The House of Commons
woltid have its flying foot-bridge over the
ornamental Water, just as Society would have Mr.
MERDLE'S Butler—and there it is, in consequence,
wit/ be—another of the many
or rather there it
extraordinary London sights for foreigners to
gape at ! A fitting pendant to the vinegar-cruets
on the top of the National Gallery ; to the empty
receipt-file appropriately protruding from the head
of the Duke of YORK'S statue ; to the vacant pe-
destal opposite the Royal o:tler,(called GEORGE
IV.) faking one of CHANTREY's horses to water

ou we other side of Trafalgar-square ; to the pre-
_

posterous bronze queue of her MAJESTY'S grand-

father in Cockspur-street ; and to that portentous
tail of the stoney Lion over Northumberland

House which is reputed to wag every now and
then good-naturedly for the awful delight of

country cousins.

Notwithstanding thn opposition of " MERCA-
TOR" amongst the Peers and of Lord MONTEAGLE,
the House of Lords passed the Limited Liability
Bill by a majority of 18 to 5. We hope, there-