The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-05 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1856.

A resplendent Pharos erected upon that ever-
lasting Mountain of HORACE, by way of comme-
morating the " ridiculous Mouse," of whose par-
turition it was once upon a time guilty, would be
nothing to it. Absolutely nothing to it ! Fancy
—Marshal PELISSIER made a Duke, and Admiral
LYONS created a Baron—for what ? For the ex-
press purpose of celebrating in a very sign &Z man-
ner the Mouse of a Peace brought forth by the
growling, thundering, eerthquakin,g Mountain of
the late European War ! In comme;noration of this
tremendous little Event—Admiral LYONS is made a
Peer of Parliament, and Marshal PELISSIER a
Napoleonian Doke ! The rieHeelus Mus has its
oaeoe, then, flaming away atop of the parturient
Mons ! As though—" Mons Meg" herself having
fired off a dried pea with a stupendous and re-
echoing detonation, the lieges of Auld Reekie were
forthwith to " pile Pelion upon 03sa," by topping
the Castle of Edinburgh with a cloud-piercing
monument in celebration of the said dried pea !
Never was there anything more preposterous.
Marshal PELISIER created a Duke,—what for ?
for never taking the northern forts of Sebastopol
after all, with an army of 1300,000 men, aided by
a fleet the world had never before seen paralleled
for efficiency, thanks to the combined influence of
steam-engines, screw-propellers; railroads, and
electric telegraphs ! Admiral LYONS created a
Baron—for what ?—for doing just about "ditto" to
Sir C. NAPIER in the Baltic, or, in other words,
"next to nothing !" Why, it was only thus, by
the distribution of baronial. and ducal coronets,
that the Great Decisive Battles of the World
(Victories such as those recounted by Professor
CREASY) were recompensed of yore by the Rulers
whose Captains by sea and land were not
Pigmies, but Paladins ! Even the Grandest
Sea Captain who ever bore the " Meteor
Flag of England" in triumph over the ocean,
even HORA.TIO NELSON' ill Lusei r, after such
victories as St. Vincent, and the Nile, and Copen-
hagen, and Trafalgar, died at last but an English
Viscount, with a beggarly Italian Dukedom !
And NAPOLEON, the First NAPOLEON, the Great
NAPOLEON—what Marshals those were he created
Dukes of the Empire ! Not a PELISSIER among
them—not one man among them (the ghastly
joke must be pardoned, if only in consideration
of its exceeding appositeness)—who could either
smoke others or be smoked himself ! Hls Ducal
Marshals were victorious heroes—such as MAs
SENA, " the Spoilt Child of Victory," or as
MURAT, " the B3au, S b
a reur (who was King
even ultimately), or as NEY, "the Bravest of the
Brave," or as LANNES, of
whom
the modern
SESOSTRIS said "I found him a Dwarf, I left him
a Giant," as DUROC, as SOULTP gs JUNOT, as Ben-
NADOTTE, as MACDONALD, as a throng of others,
'the Knights of the Gallic Annetta, the PALADINS
.of the greater CHARLEMAGNE ! And now the
Royal descendant of ARTHUR, the Imperial Suc-
cessor of NAPOLEON, selects—the one, Admiral,
LYONS, for doing " next to nothing," to be a
Baron—the other, Marshal PBussiEß, for pretty
nearly do. do. do., to be a Duke ! And so—
for the Peace— we have had in Eng-
land royal salutes, a flJnrish of trumpets,
reviews, and fireworks ? And so—for the War—
in France they are going to adorn their capital
'with an imperial colossal monument of commemo-
ration. _Here, as though it were after tile cam-
paigns of a MARLEOROLTGII or a WELLINGTON-.
There, as though the present were the worthy
sequel of campaigns, like those of Marengo or of
Austerlitz. Alas !-_for the contrast : and Alas !
also, by reason of that contrast—for the inevit-
able Ridicule !

The forthcoming Presidential election seems to
excitement amongst our Trans.be the prevailing
atlantic brethren. The PIERCE-MARCY dodge, at
one time regarded as a promising "spec.," totally
failed in its intended effect, and General PIERCE

had to resign himself, with the best grace pos-
sible, to return into private life, the station for
which he is best qualified. Mr. BUCHANAN, the
late representative of the United States at the
Court of St. James's, was selected by the Demo-
cratic section as their candidate. Thia was the
party which formerly secured a four years' term
of the White House for the pugnacious General.
But it appeared that he could not retain their
allegiance. His chances were, therefore, accord-
ing to Yankee parlance, "most catawampously
thawed up ;" and Mr. BUCHANAN, who had the
advantage of being away from home for a consi-
derable time, succeeded to his forfeited honours.

But still the Democrats had it not all their own
way. The old Whig party had a will of their
own ; and as the successful candidate generally
clears out all the public offices, and substitutes
friends and supporters of his own for the old
employee 3, there was that lively sense of favours to
come, the sanguine anticipation of personal benefit,
to stimulate the voters on behalf of their favourite.
They well knew that if the Democratic ticket
turned up the capital prize there would not be
that general clearing out that would create the
anxiously-looked for vacancies. Neither PIERCE
nor BUCHANAN could disturb the existing arrange-
ments, and therefore the transatlantic waiters on
Providence should put forward one who would be
crippled by no such restrictions, but could offer
the highest rewards to his friendly constituents.
They found a good man and true for the position,
Night MILLARD FILLMORE, who had formerly filled
the Presidential chair, and who had also been out
of the way on an European tour. He was there-
fore the chosen of the Whig party. But there
was an unfortunate difficulty in the way that„
de-
stroyed the unanimity indispensable to success.
The " domestic institution," or, in other words,

the system of slavery for which PIERCE and
BITCHANAN were ready " to go the entire animal,"
proved the fertile cause of di3sension, a very apple
of discord, amongst the Whig delegates. There
were Northerns and Southerns who were diamet-
rically opposed on this important topic. The
recent proceedings at Kansas had alarmed those
who might otherwise have voted with the general
body. They saw, however, the attempt to obtain
a recognition of the unholy traffic by even those
opposed to the demoralising system, and to do so
vi et annis, obtaining converts, according to the
system of ithEIONIET, by the strong hand. There
was, therefore, a split amongst the party ; and
although FILLMORE obtained the ticket so far as the
slave-holding States were concerned, the North-
erns, who constituted a large and influential
minority, refused to be bound by the arrange-
ment.

There was, however, " another RICHMOND in
the field." Col. FRE3IONT, the fortunate pro-
prietor of a large tract of auriferous land in Cali-
fornia, was free from the sable stain, with which
both his opponents were indelibly marked. He
not only holds the Republican ticket, at all times
offering a respectable chance, but has had it
endorsed by the Northern Whigs, who refuse to
swell the ranks of the slave-owners, or voluntarily
to assume the iniquitous brand. The result has
been that FREMONT has won many votes from
both of his opponents, and that he will probably
show a greater number of suffrages than
either BUCHANAN or FILLMORE at the hour
of trial. Indeed, so far as the p )pular
selection is concerned, the question lies be-
tween BUCHANAN and FREMONT, and FILLMORE
has not the slightest possible chance.
But it is not the candidate who has the greatest
number of votes that must succeed. An absolute
majority is required—that is to say, more than a
clear majority of Electors must record their
suffrages in favour o: one person—to render the
Election valid. The time consumed before 14
Speaker was appointed will give some notion as
to the difficulty of the task. If no person should
obtain that clear m.ijority in the Electoral Col-
lege, the House of Representatives will have to
select one from amongst the three who have ob-
tained the highest number of votes.
The hopes of the Fillmorites rest entirely on
the House of Representatives. If they succeed
in neutralising the popular election, they antici-
pate that by a fusion of parties they may possibly
succeed. Like their namesakes in Great Blitaio
they hope to rule by playing the extremes against
each (Oder, and filching votes alternately front
FREMONT and BUCHANAN. The slaveholders may
vote for the slave-supporting Fri.Laroae, while
they would fight to the uttermost against the
Abolitionist, FREMONT while the Northern
Whigs may possibly be induced to come round
rather than see the coveted prize fall into the
hands of BUCHANAN.
An absolute majority of States will, however,
be required in ',Congress as well as in the Elec-
toral College ; and there is a fourth party
interested in preventing any election in
either place before the 4th Much, in which case
the Vice-President will at once be elevated to the
Presidential chair. It seems to be generally
considered that Mr. BRECKENRIDGE, the Demo-
cratic candidate fur the Vice-Presidency, will
succeed in the contest. If, then, both elec-
tions for the Presidency be neutralised, a
person will obtain the position who would
not directly receive a single vote. This
shows the complicated system of the State ma-
chine at Washington. FREMONT or BUCHANAN
would unquestionably be placed at the head of the
poll at the Electoral College ; but FILLMORE will
strive to render that abortive, and may probably
suceed in so doing. Then comes the chance of
BRACKENRIDGE, and if the same game can be
played the House of Representatives, his will be
the triumph. From this it will be seen that the
system in force in the model Republic is eminently
calculated to bring second-rate men into power,
and to set aside those whose position and charac-
ters better entitle them to the distinction. It is,
however, to be hoped that the growing enthusiasm
in favour of Colonel FREMONT, the abolitionist can-
didate, may achieve the victory, and save the
United States from the disgrace of having its
first citizen an advocate of the nefarious and
abominable traffic in human beings.

The condition of a people deprived of their
liberties by means of an army whose achievements
abroad reflect honour on—shall we say—tine
national standard, and whose capabilities of offence
and defence keep aggression at a respectful did.
tance, is
snfficiently deplorable. But the condi-
tion of a people deprived of their liberties by
means of an army formidable against and terrible
to none but themselves, is enough to move the
least susceptible lover of freedom to heart-felt
compassion. To find an exemplification of the
first described condition would involve no great
research, and for the second we have only to turn
to Spain.

Saragossa has capitulated, and that bluff blus-
tering traitor, General O'DONNELL, by the grace
of wantonness and fraud, and the instrumentality
of an army not rated very high in military
circles, is now master of Spain ! " How are the
mighty fallen !" The proudest people in the world
at the feet of a coarse-minded, military adven-
turer, in
whose veins runs no drop of the blue
blood of their haughty grandees, and having as

their Sovereign a QUEEN who, to an invincible
repugnance to virtue, adds the treachery of a
BOURBON, and more than the caprice of a village
coquette, and whose line, if perpetuated, must be
associated with her dishonour, and the humilia
tion of her subjects.
How it is all to end is now the problem for
consideration. Time only can yield the solution.
Master though General O'DoNNELL now is of the
situation, nothing is more precarious than his
tenure of power. Perfidious towards ESPARTERO,
and a traitor to the Constitution, he walks among
pit-falls, and may disappear from his elevation in
a night. What he has sown it is his doom already
to reap. If he would rest where he is he will
fall short of what his prompters and patrons ex-
pect of him. If he resolves on gratifying their
wishes, and burying the debris of the Constitution
in the gulf of absolutism—he will be dismissed
when he has served the turn, to make way for a
more courtly and more reliable instrument. If
in despair he turns to the more pliable of his
former friends among the Liberal party, and en-
treats their aid on the ground of a desire to
rescue and consolidate what remains of the Con-
stitution, possibly he may draw some of them over
to him ; but the Liberal party can never hence-
forth regard him otherwise than with suspicion.
The people hate while they fear him, and the
army, though it may like him, will have but little
hesitation to turn him off to make way for a
better bidder.

The political aspect is turned to all appearance

towards despotism. The fate of O'DONNELL
seems sealed, and with his downfall fare-
well for a time to what is left of the Consti-
tution. An abler intriguer will in all probability
supply his place, though it may be not until the
Court Camarilla has brought the country to a
dead lock. The people will then be x uled with an
iron, but for all that an uncertain, hand, and the
end will come if only for the country to go through
the same round again. A despotism with such a
Sovereign not merely ought not, but in the nature
of things cannot; stand. The interests that are
inseparably bound up with it are contemptible
No reputable portion of the population can enter-
tain for it any respect. No hereditary affection
exists for it to appeal to, and the army, rude en-
gino though it be, feels its position, and is not
likely to offer itself a sacrifice to imbecility.
That day would deserve to be signalised by a
white stone which saw constitutional liberty once
more established in Spain. The year of revolu-
tions comes slowly on, may it, if all previous at-
tempts fail, bring freedom to that unhappy coun-
try also ! Could but CHARLES V., or " Armada"
Pirtur rise from the grave to witness its present
condition !

THE MEDIT:

MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, AUG. 5.
By the Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steam-ship Euxine, Capt. Killoch, with the India,
China, and Mediterranean mails, we have dates
from Alexandria, July 22 ; Malta, 26th ; Gibral-
tar, 31st.
The Euxine brings 62 passengers, and on freight
2,009 bales of silk, 600 sacks of wheat, and nine
packages of general merchindise.
During the homeward voyage the Euxine expe-
rienced strong head winds. On the 30th ultimo
passed the brig Chesterfield, off Gibraltar, steering
to the westward ; 31st, spoke the schooner Maid
of Athens, in lat. 36.25 N., long. 7.20, steering
N.W. ; August Ist, off the Burlings, passed the
screw steam transport W. S. Lindsay, with artil-
lery, for England, and the mail steamer Sultan,
with the Peninsular mails, steering for Lisbon.
The steam transports Clarendon and Clyde had
touched at Gibraltar, en route for England, from
the Crimea, with detachments of different regi-
ments.

The hired barque Barretto, Junior, with return-
ed stores ; the British ship Daedalus, with wooden
huts and stores ; the sailing transport Gertrude,
in tow of her Majesty's steamer Banshee ; and the
troop ship 6ilnuou had reachediGibraltar, from the
E

Her Majesty's steamship Dragon, with three
companies of Royal Sappers and Miners, from the
Crimea, for Spithead, sailed from Gibraltar on the
30th ult.

The sailing transport Burlington, with Royal
Artillery, for England, was at Gibraltar.
The Queen Dowager of Oude, the heir apparent
to the throne of Oude, and suite, have not arrived
by this packet. The illustrious party remained at
Cairo, and will, it. is said, proceed to England by
the mail packet Indus, next due at Southampton.

COURT CIRCULAR.

OSBORNE, AUG.
_4.

The Queen and Prince, the Prince of Wales, the Prin-
cesA R.,1 al, Pri❑ceas Alice, and Princess Helena at
to❑ded divine service at Osborne yesterday morning,
which was performed by the Rev. G. Prothero.
The Duchess of Kent also attended the service.

Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland
Revenue, had an interview with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer yesterday. Sir T. Fremantle, Chairman of
the Customs, had also an interview yesterday with the
right hon. baronet, at his official residence in Downing.
street.

A deputation from the Metropolitan Board of Works
had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
on Saturday, at his official residence in Downing street.
The deputation consisted of Mr. Thwaites (Chairman),
Major Lyon, and Mr. Corrie (members of the Board),
and Mr. Woolrych (Clerk of the Board).
A deputation of the Board of Works for the White-
chapel District bad an interview with the Right Hon.
Sir B. Hall at the office of Public Works in Whitehall-
place on Saturday. The deputation consisted of Messrs.
J. Casey. F. T. Hart, r. Brushfield, G. Simmons, J.
Shelton, C. Sands, and the c:erk, Mr. A. Turner. The
deputation was introduced by Mr. C. S. Butler, M.P.