The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-28 00:00:00

for, and where are the laurels over which the
present or future generations can rejoice ? Our
generals have won the soubriquet of asses. The
bravo privates, serjeants, and subordinate officers
of the army have alone proved themselves lions.

The stout heart of England, to change the figure,
has breasted nobly the tide of war, but the gal-
lant vessel has been run not into the harbour of a

victorious peace, but on the sunken reef of a
precarious truce. Whether intended or not as a

bitter satire on the illumination, the device of a

private individual in the City aptly enough hits

off the truth. Over the word Peace (in large

letters) is a pair of gigantic spectacles. Whether

meant to represent a pair of French mann-

facture or no we cannot determine. But cer-

tainly the most powerful lenses ever invented by
a Parisian prefet will be required to make the

cessation of hostilities pass for peace. Are we to

illuminate to please the Emperor of the French ?

That were to add insult to injury. It may be

the case, but an Englishman will be excused
some scepticism on this head. Degraded as the
nation has been by traitorous and by incompetent
rulers, that depth of degradation has surely been
spared us. To have to accept a truce of his mak-

ing, at his instance, and to servo his turn, was bad
enough ; to be compelled by him to rejoice over it

were intolerable. What are we to illuminate for

then ? To please the Foreigners here who sold us
to spare the Foreigners there ? We have been
sacrificed by and for Germany to save Russia
from paying the eousequences of her fraudn:
lent ambition and hypocrisy. And for
what ? Is it to celebrate the triumph of
aristocratic misappropriation of power —of
regime of routine, selfish greed, and incom-
petency, over the enlightened wishes and best
interests of the nation ? The triumph certainly
is not with the people. Their day is yet to come,
and come it assuredly will. But so gross an in-
sult can never be intended. It would argue a
fatuity past redemption. What, then, are we to
illuminate for ?
The illumination is inexplicable, save perhaps
on one supposition, if we are to give our
rulers credit for the possession of any modicum of
common sense. The German Cousins of the Court
are paying and about to pay U 3 a visit. The
people certainly are not anxious for the honour
of their acquaintance, nor at all prepared
to greet them with any warmth of feeling.
The stronger perhaps the reason for a Govern-
mental illumination. Senseless shows of re-
joicing have not unfrequently had to stand instead
of hearty popular acclaims. The princes of Ger-
many, too, are better used to the former. What
is thought of this as a solution ? Prince FREDE
RICK of Prussia is now among us. His Father
will be here soon, and the Regent of
BADEN is here already. The illumination
must have its origin in some motive. Is it
intended to do honour to them ? If so, we are
quite certain Government has made a mistake. If
it wished to gratify their feelings, it should have
divided the 80001. the fireworks are to cost
among them. That would have pleased them
better. Offer the minor Princes of Germany
a few cool thousands each, all round,
and throw so much over to the leviathans, and
we are greatly deceived if a complete collection of
German Princes might not be forthcoming in the
Tower within the next six months. What poly-
gamists we are—about to be married to Prussia,
and possibly France, and married to Belgium, to
Russia, to Austria, and to the remainder of Ger-
many already. Why, we shall be married to all
the despots of the world shortly.
Is it decent to illuminate in prospect of this ?
One consolation fortunately remains. The illu-
mination which should properly follow the cessa-
tion of such a war is yet to come. The oppressed
nationalities, whose interests, hopes, and feelings
have been so studiously ignored during the con-
flict, may be trusted to get up that. - The
triumphs of despots and Court Camarillas precede
nowadays, in the order of things, the rejoicings
of the people. Court marriages, however great
the sacrifice of the rights of womanhood offered
at them, never staved these rejoicings off.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IN PARIS.—An extraordinary
council of Ministers was held yesterday in Paris. It is
upposed that it related to the affsirs of Italy.
His Royal Highness Prince Frederick William of
Prussia, attended by Lieutenant-General Baron de
Schreckenstein, Baron A: Nike, and Capt. Heinze,
visited the members of the Royal Family at their
residences yesterday afternoon.
Her Royal Higness the Duchess of Kent visited her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday,
at Gloucester House.

The Duchess of Northumberland's party, at North-
umberland House, this evening, is unavoidably post-
poned. . _ .

The Earl and Countess of Clancarty and Lady Ann
Butler have left Howchin's Hotel, St. James's-street,
for Paris. They will return again early in June.
The Hon. Mrs. Vesey-Dawson and Miss Fitzpatrick
have arrived at Edwards's Hotel, from Paris. _ _

Lord Holland, who has lately been suffering from
severe indisposition, is now out of danger, and rapidly

recovering..

Sir Chrles and Lady Wake ani family arrived at
their town house in Cuester.streA, Belgrave-square, on
Monday last, for the season.
Count Dam ,rmida. Adjutant-General of the King of
Sardinia. arrived at Vienna on the 23i from Turin.

Lord John Russell, it is understood, intends to leave
this country about the middle of July, accompanied by
Lady John Russell and family, for, in the first instance,
Switzerland, and ultimately Italy. The object of his
lordship's visit to the continent is for the benefit of the
health of Lady John Russell, whose condition of late
has occasioned her relatives some anxiety. That the
noble lord contemplates a protracted absence from this
country may be inferred from the circumstance that he
intends to break up his domestic establishment, and let
for a term his town mansion in Chesham-place as well
as his seat in the vicinity of Stroud.
A deputation from the Carlton Incorporation, intro-
duced by Mr. Milligan, M.P., and consisting of Mr.
Ackreyd, visitor, Mr. Morris, Mr. Walker, Mr. Dews-
bury, and Sir. Wright, had an interview with the Right
Hon. E. P. Bouverie, yes erday, at the officio of the
Poor-law Board, on the subject of the Poor-law Amend-
ment Bill, as it affects Gilbert'slncorporations.
_ _

A deputation from the Burial Board of the City of
London had an interview with Viscount Palmerston and
Sir G. Grey, yesterday. The deputation consisted of
the Chai .mau, Mr. Deputy Peacock, Mr. Deputy Hard-
don, Mr. Deputy Bower, Mr. Deputy Whiteside, Mr.
Waterlow, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Bone, Mr. Hickson, Mr.
Ross, Mr. Deputy Aitchison ; the clerk, Mr. Daw ; the
solicitor, Mr. Tyrrell, and the engineer—, Mr. Heywood.
Mr. John Wood, chairman of the Board of Inland
Revenue, and Mr. Pressly, deputy-chairman, had an in-
terview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, yester-
day. at his official residence in Downimr-street.

The Cologne Gaz:gte states that Tesc'aen, who is
charged \vita abstracting the despatches at Potsdam, is
to be indicted for high treason.
LOP.D CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, May 27.—Notice is
hrreby given, that the state apartments of Windsor
Castle will be closed after Friday next, the 30th inst.,
till further orders.
Sir C. Wood, Admiral Eden, and Col. Green, RE.,
paid an official visit to Woolwich dockyard yesterday,
for the purpose of making decisive arrangements as to
the disposal of the gun-boats and mortar floats.
EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE ON LONDON-BRIDGE.-
-Yesterday morning, at half•past three o'clock, con-
siderable sensation was created on London-bridge, in
consequence of a wide-spread report that a respectably-
dressed female, name unknown, bad been thrown over
Londnn-bridge, and that the alleged murderer had been
apprehended. Upon inquiry this turns out to be too
true, and the particulars are nearly as follow :--A police
constable (Wheeler, No. 557) was on duty on London-
bridge, at half-past three o'clock yesterday morning.
He observed a man and woman loitering on the bridge
for some length of time. They presently got on one of
the recesses. A person who was passing saw the man
push the woman over the bridge. In falling she struck
against the abutments, and fell into the water. Whee-
ler inetactly raised an alarm, when the Rsyal Humane
Society's boats and drags were quickly put in requisition,
but the body was not found. The man, when arrested,
attempted to commit suicide. Upon arriving at the
station, the inspector asked him his name. He
answered, William Mayes, billiard-marker, aged 2G
years, and that he resided at Three Tons-court,Borough.
:rie acting inspector entered the charge against the
prisoner as follows :—Charged with attempting suicide,
and also pushing a woman over the parapet of London-
bridge. Later in the afternoon the man was placed at
the bar, before Sir R. Carden, at the Mansion-house,
charged with the above offence. He was remanded for
a week.