The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-31 00:00:00

r.has come to Pass. The QUEEN not proroguing Parlia-
ment on Tuesday the 29th, but the very day after-
wards, Wednesday the 30th, reviewing her
soldiers at Aldershott. Her Most Gracious
MAJESTY upon the latter occasion, wearing
over her riding habit the gold-braided
scarlet jacket of a general officer, crossed
by the blue ribbon of the Garter and
by a gold embroidered scarf, wearing also
a Melton-hat with pendant golden tassels,
and, floating over the brim of it, a red and white
cock's feather—having on one hand the Prince
ALBERT, Field-Marshal, and on the other the Duke
of CAMBRIDGE, General in the Army and General
Commanding-in-Chief ! Well-.-after all, honestly,
we cannot for the life of us but admire her
MAJESTY'S taste. Granted that a review like that
of yesterday all ends like an exploded firework—
with a mere sense of a smell of gunpowder ! Is
it not a vast deal better than proroguing
such a Parliament at the tail of such a
session ? Mr. BULL—[we hear him distinctly]
with his hands still in his breeches'
pockets, and his brows still puckered, and his
lips still pursed—growls out a gruff—" Rather!"
And so Honour to the choice, say we, of our
good QUEEN—GIory go with her and GOD bless
her, as she rides down the perspective of. those
20,000 men at Aldershot, with her gold-braided
scarlet jacket glittering in the sunshine, and the
red and white plumes in her Melton beaver
fluttering in the breeze.

The unequivocal sympathy expressed for
O'DONNELL and the reactionary party in Spain,
in the article of the Monitcur—an article, which
it is more than hinted was written by the Em-
PERoE, himself, or under his direct inspiration,
proves but too clearly what would be his course of
policy in the event of any coup d'etat, we beg
pardon, "any change of a nature to consolidate ''
the English throne. Louis NAPOLEON is no in-
different observer of the progress of events. He
is thoroughly au fait in the more important mat-
ters reported in, or commented on, by the leading
journals of England. He must have been aware
of the remarkable speech made at a certain Trinity
House Banquet, in which a very influential person-
age thought proper to declare that " the British Con-
' stitution was on its trial!" Howe ver idly these words
may have been spoken, they could not have been
unobserved by the Imperial Ruler of France—
and may possibly have attracted greater attention
than they merited. They were delivered very
shortly after the confidential intercourse which
had taken place between the EMPEROR and the
Prince Consort, and when the German Legion
was in course of formation. The Trinity
House Speech, and the official pronouncement in
the Moniteur, seem to have a significant
coincidence, which it would be well that
every Englishman should bear in mind.
Credit is given to Marshal O'DONNELL fox
having attempted to restore " order" to Spain
without a coup d'etat, and for having devoted all
his care to the reform of the Spanish Army. We
have already explained the Imperial notions re-
specting " order," and the abuse of that dese-
crated word. We may easily conceive what
would be his views on the same point in England,
and how much credit would be given to the Field:
Marshal for his attempts to reform the English
Army by the introduction of German merce-
naries to insure that "order" so greatly
esteemed in the Tuileries.

Every expression contained in the article would
be equally applicable to England, just as the on-
slaught on the freedom of journalism in Belgium
might have been directed against the English
Press, if circumstances favoured the attempt.
The experiment was in each instance tried in
quarters where the results would be less formid
able ; but in either case ho might have said t
England, "de to fabula narrator." What may b,
considered instructive lessons have been given t(
English Constitutionalists by H.R. H. at the Trinity
House, and by the EMPEROR, through his repre-
sentative, at the Conferences, and through the
Ministerial organs, although the latter havt
nominally related to Belgium and Spain.
These extraordinary coincidences will induce us
to watch, with even greater anxiety, the progress
of events in Spain. It is neither our duty nor
our desire to interfere unnecessarily in the pro-
ceedings now taking place. Spaniards are the
only fitting parties to defend their own rights and
privileges. But it, is also incumbent on us to
prevent these liberties from being crushed by
any foreign intervention, or the establishment
of a precedent which may speedily be made
available against ourselves. The army of " ob-
servation " cannot, under any circumstances, be
changed into an army of "occupation," whatever
temporary success may have attended or may still
attend the conspirators. It cannot
,be of a per-
manent character, unless they once more
restore the Constitution they have so reck-
lessly destroyed. However artful the plans,
and well-contrived the preparations, to meet
the first burst of indignation on the part of
the betrayed people, they only met the exigency
of the moment. The Liberals cannot trust in
man who so recklessly shed the blood of their
brethren, however plausible may be his professions
or specious his pretexts. They cannot feel any
great devotion for a sovereign who has deliberately
uprooted the foundation of her throne, and can-
celled the title by which she wielded the
sceptre. The time will come, and perhaps
sooner than may be anticipated, when they
can obtain justice. It is our duty to see
that they shall receive perfectly fair play, and
that the fate of Spain and the nature of the Go-
vernment to be established therein, shall be
solely decided by Spaniards, the only parties
entitled to have a voice therein. Above all
things, we must take care that no precedents
shall be created that may be turned against our-
selves when a different Sovereiyn occupies the
British Throne, and it may be considered desirable
to substitute German for British institutions.

As a general rule it cannot be a good policy for
a great and powerful nation to put up with. any
affront short of direct insult that may be offered
to it. Magnanimity undoubtedly should bt the
characteristic of a country like ours—but so ex-
ercisod as not to be mistaken for any other quality.
If it is So mistaken, the danger will become gx-
, ceedingly great of its being frequently and severely
tried„ until at last, goaded beyond endurance,
a bitter and sanguinary war more than reproducos
the e vils from which we had congratulated our-
selve s on having been mercifully spared.
Fortunately, in the settlement of the Enlist-
ment difficulty with America, circumstances ex-
isted well calculated to prevent any mistake being
made by the great body of the American people
as to the nature of the moderation displayed by
our ( Xovernment. The conclusion of the War
saw u. a in possession of the greatest naval arma-
ment chat ever swam the seas ; while the only re-
preser tatives of the maritime greatness of America
were t 4 ) be found in a few paltry vessels of war,
and hes r commercial marine. England, in short,
never presented so terrible a capacity for instant
offenc e, or America stood in a state of such utter
defen, ielesiiness. Not only, therefore, was thi n.e

real magnanimTty in the forbearance exercised on
our part towards America after being scurvily
dealt with, but that magnanimity was patent to
the whole world. The pettiest German State
could appreciate it, and America, had she been
so disposed, could not have impugned its charac-
ter. There was not, wad there could not, be any
mistake about the matter.

We are exceedingly glad of it. Not only be-
cause war has been averted by moderation, with-
out heaping up the elements of a more embittered
conflict, but also because we believe the magnani-
mity we have displayed has tended, and will fur-
ther tend, to open the eyes of our transatlantic
cousins to certain serious misconceptions they en-
tertain respecting us. Full of activity and enter-
prise, surrounded by resources of extraordinary
magnitude, actually strong and wealthy, and with
a great future as plainly set before them, unless
they abuse their privileges, as the sun at noonday
—the notion, ridiculous as it is, is but too preva-
lent, that "the Old Country" holds them in con-
tempt, and yet is so jealous of their progress as to
look eagerly out for any means, whether by hook
or by crook, to withstand it. How a notion so ab-
surd should have got possession of them is suffi-
ciently puzzling, notwithstanding all the aid the
aristocratic hauteur to be met with in this
country, and the few territorial disputes Ame-
rica has had with England, can lend us.
Exist, however, these misconceptions have done,
and their existence finds ample confirmation in
the late dispute, and is sufficiently evident in the
remarks of the New York press on its satisfactory
conclusion. Our American contemporaries are
evidently both surprised and gratified at the
magnanimity we have displayed, and are en-
deavouring to divest themselves of notions we
have shown them to have been based on mis•
' conception, and not on fact.

Gratified, however, as wo are thtit so great an
opportunity has been afforded us to demonstrate
our feelings towards America, and at the measure
of success which has followed the demonstration,
we must be permitted a few, words of expostula-
tion and of advice fitting this country to offer,
and not derogatory to American greatness to re-
ceive. " You, descendants with us of one common
stock, heirs with us of the noblest portion of our
literature, and entrusted, like us, with the
priceless pearl of Liberty ; you, great, glo-
rious, and free—do not forget that the blood of
patriots and heroes, the love of home and the
pride of country, and the detestation of tyranny
that runs in your veins runs in ours also ; and,
when you are most impatient of real or
imagined affront, forget not that there
are two sides to most questions, and
that we may believe ourselves right ; and, above
all, in consideration for the honour of the pre-
cious charge entrusted you, remember that our
needless humiliation would at best be but your
disgrace. We have given proof of our magnani-
mity. Let the world see you can vie with us in
this great quality also. The greatness of a people
is but scurvily illustrated by blustering, and an
aptitude to take offence. Add but to your
material —a larger manifestation of mora
greatness, and not merely will the respect
we feel for you be. increased, but also th e
envy with which despotic states regard your
magnificent development, and the two countries,
England and the United States, will not only pur-
sue their career of greatness in unbroken har-
mony, but the world will be benefitted by their
example to an extent of which there is as yet no
parallel. The great heart of England beats
steadily in sympathy with America. Let it never
be recorded that America was unequal to respond
to its pulsation beat by boat, and was content to
carp, and sneer, and bluster in the presence of a
moral greatness, from whose altitude indulgence
in base passions had caused it most deplorably to
decline."

Householders beware ! About the period of
harvest, and for some time after, there has gene-
rally been found a quantity of unsound wheaten
flour in the market, owing to reasons with which
most of our readers are familiar. The present
year will form no exception to the rule, but, un-
less precautionary measures are taken, is likely to
stand out in unusual prominence. A quantity of
flour, literally alive with animalcul, is now, there
is every reason to believe, being offered for sale
by retail dealers in the metropolis. But the other
day the fact was brought under the notice of Mr.
YARDLEY, at the Thames Police Office, by Dr.
LETHEBY, who presented a sample justifying the'ut-
most severity of remark, and calling for the greatest
care and discrimination on the part of purchasers.
For let the public be assured it is not a mere risk
of having the taste offended and the cost of pur-
chase wasted they have to guard against ; it is
the extremest danger to life itself, at the worst
possible period that head can be made against it.
Fortunately Asiatic cholera has not this year made
its appearance among us, but there is always a
tendency at this period of the year to choleraic
attacks, which renders unwholesome diet pecu-
liarly dangerous. Mr. YARDLEY tells us of one
instance in which an entire family has this pre-
sent season barely escaped with life from
the effects of flour become unfit for human
food. A poor woman, he says, com-
plained to him that after eating pudding
made from a quartern of flour purchased of a
Whitechapel dealer, herself, her husband, and
two of her children, were seized with severe ill-
ness—the only member of the family, who
escaped, being a child who had not partaken with
them. This feature of the case, together with
the sample shown by Dr. LETHEBY, leaves but
little scope for conjecture as to the cause of their
illness. The poor creatures were poisoned—
poisoned to gratify the cupidity of a reckless
and most unconscionable trader. How many
more have been similarly victimised it is, of
course, impossible to say. Many may have failed
to detect the cause of their illness, and others,
who may have a decided opinion on this
head, may have been reluctant to make
any stir about the matter. One thing
may fairly be presumed. The Whitebbapel dealer
is not alone in his iniquity. It would be unrea-
sonable to suppose such flour has not been offered
elsewhere. The necessity of cautdon on the part
of householders will by this time, we imagine, be
admitted. What, it may be asked, are they to
do ? Use what discrimination they possess—buy
only, if possible, of parties, whether flour-dealers
or bakers, ?f known respectability, and do ,their
utmost to expose every one they find guilty of
offering unwholesome food for sale. In the latter
attempt every facility, we doubt not, will be
afforded them by the local officer of health, under
whose especial cognisance this species of diabolical
fraud is placed. Let them, in the first instance,
purchase some of the suspected flour in the pre-
sence of witnesses, and send a specimen in a sealed
packet to him, with the name and abode of the seller
and wait his instructions in the matter. By
these means, if generally adopted, the danger of
such food continuing to be offered may be in a
great measure averted. A few exposures, pro-
perly followed up by punitive measures, will go a
long way to keep others in the path of honesty, as
well as to alarm and dimt from their course the