The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-04 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1858.

Saragossa has at length surrendered to the
Spanish Government. General DULCE m Ide his
entrance on Friday, in due form. The conspiracy
against the Constitution was too completely orga-
nised, in the first instance, to permit any reason-
able prospect of success to those who were goaded
into demonstrations on behalf of their abrogated
liberties. The spasmodic resistance offered to the
arbitrary proceedings, was suppressed in the most
sanguinary and inhuman manner. Not only was

" war to the knife" proclaimed against those who

arrayed themselves beneath the banner of the
Constitutiorf—not only was quarter refused to
all who appeared] in the streets, but the scaffold
was glutted with political victims, whose lives
were made the stepping-stores of the unscrupu-
lous O'DONNELL to official rank and emolument.
The coup d'etat (we use the term advisedly,
notwithstanding /the arguments of the Govern-
ment scribe in the ILlfoniteur) has thus far been
successful. But how long will it remain so ?
The time-honoured adage tells us that, "finis
coronat opus," and it will be well to wait for the
results, before the reactionaries can chaunt exult-
ing paeans at their temporary triumph.
One of the most extraordinary and significant
circumstances connected with the affair is, that
the betrayer of the Liberal cause—the unscrupu-
lous shedder of the blood of the Liberals—
seems to calculate on the support of the progres-
istas to sustain him in the position which he has
achieved. He well knows that he is not loved
by the Court—that NARVAEZ is the favourite in
that quarter, and that he will bo recalled the
moment that the "instrument" can be dispensed
with. ISABELLA " may love the treason, but she
bates the traitor." She cannot forget the humili-
ation which she sustained but two short years
ago at his hands, and will ba desirous of
avenging it at the earliest opportunity. A
prudent cautionlhas been given on high autho-
rity, to "place no faith in princes," and
certainly Queen ISABELLA cannot be cited as
an exception to the rule. No one is more tho-
roughly satisfied on this point than the present
Minister of Spain. He is, therefore, already
bidding for the support of those whom he has so
basely betrayed, whose friends and relatives he
has so cruelly butchered. Without them he can-

not stand. His game is to play the Court and
the people alternately the one against the other.
Mindful of his Hibernian origin, he may think
that he can easily conciliate those with whom he
has been fighting but the day before. But he
may find that his calculations have been made a
leetle too fine, and that none will be willing to
adopt the cause of the double-dyed traitor who
hag betrayed all parties in turn, and on whose
Professions, however earnest, no confidence can
be reposed.
It is asserted, and with much appearance of
truth, that he is now holding out the promise of
a " perfect constitution,"—one that will satisfy
all parties, from the most thorough-paced Abso-
lutist to the enthusiastic and uncompromising
Liberal. This almost miraculous achievement
of human wisdom is not to be submitted

to the Cortes or any constituted assembly. The
late body has been dismissed at the point of the
bayonet, and it is not quite convenient to permit
the meeting of any successors. Everything is to
depend on the wisioni and patriotism of Marshal

O'DONNELL. He demands unlimited confidence,
and seems to think that he can draw to any
amount on public credulity. We doubt, however,
whether his credit stands quite so highly as he
appears to think—whether w hat he proposes
will be accepted without consideration or re-
monstrance. We have witnessed too many
attempts, and the worthlessness of the
quasi constitutional bantlings of despotism have
been too frequently and too clearly demonstrated
to permit us to pin our faith on any promises,
however plausible, or pledges of even the most
solemn character. Besides, he himself has shown
us how easily such a Constitution may be set aside
whenever its operation may become inconvenient
to the predominant power. It cannot possess the
elements of stability being altogether one-sided.
To have the slightest chance of permanency it
must be the result of mature consideration be-
tween co-ordinate bodies in which the interests
cf all are fairly represented, so that there may be
several parties to the solemn contract. At present
there maybe inapparent tranquillity, but it is ana-
logous to that produced by those "who made a
desert and called it peace."
One of the most ominous symptoms connected
with the untoward event, which seems to show
that O'DONNELL is not relying solely on his
own strength to overcome the difficulty which he
has created, is the movement of a large body of
French troops towards the frontier. The Cour-
rier de la Gironde announces the passage of
numerous battalions en route for Bayonne. This
menacing demonstration is palpably directed
against any effort of the Constitutionalists,
and seems to show that O'DONNELL had promises
of more powerful support than could be offered
by any section of Spanish politicians before he
entered on his daring attempt. It is with deep
regret that we are compelled to direct public
attention, and to point out the dangers to Eurc-
pean freedom from the uncontrolled spirit cf
" Imperialism," which is now becoming as ram-
pant as that of Germanism. We fear that the
Imperial and Princely conferences have not been
very auspicious for constitutional liberty in any
part of the world, where an interference may
be attempted with any prospect of success.
We must, at least, see that Great Britain
be not subjected to any such interference. Against
that every nerve will be strained to the utmost ;
and it is essential that the Government for the
time being shall at any cost resist the establish-
ment of a precedent that may be acted on against
England. The people of the United Kingdom
will, however, know how to defend themselves
against the machinations of Czar or Kaiser, Em-
peror or Prince, and woe be to those who unduly
hasten the rapidly-approaching contest between
the conflicting principles of Liberty and o!
Despotism !

Considerable stress is laid by the Messrs.
RENDEL and Simpsorr, in their Report on the pro-
ject of another new bridge at Westminster, upon
the fact of the bridge at that site being " the
only free bridge above Blackfriars !" And no
wonder ! No wonder, we say, that stress is laid
particularly upon this very notable circumstance
—a circumstance, we cannot but think, unparal-
leled for absurdity even amidst the throng of all
the monstrous absurdities resulting from our
seemingly systematic mismanagement of every-
thing in the shape of metropolitan projects of im-
provement. Westminster Bridge the only free
bridge above Blackfriars ! It is a thing
worth remembering. It is a grievance
which, although notorious fur years past,
is still to this very day scarcely conceiv-
able. Between Blackfriars and Westminster
not one single free bridge, so that the interme-
diate traffic, in striving to evade the tolls of Wa-
terloo and Hungerford, is driven to the necessity
of a monstrous detour either eastward or westward,
as the case may be, to a most extravagant expen-
diture of time, and to the blocking up of some of
our most important thoroughfares. Yet, remem-
bering all this, it is still perversely and prepos
terously proposed that the new bridge shall be
erected upon the old site—the unstable site which
has swallowed up so much already. Without the
glimmering of a hint as to the erection of any
other free bridge lower down the river,
with a view to the simultaneous advantage
of the people of Surrey and Middlesex ! Obvi-

ously the first most advisable improvement of our
metropolis iu regard to the throwing open of fresh
facilities for traffic across the Thames, would be
the purchase of the tolled bridges from their re-
spective companies by our Government ! That is
infallibly what would be first thought of, and
first acted upon, in any similar instance, by the
French Government ! Instead of everlastingly
grumbling, and hesitating, and humming, and
hahing over the evil as it is—that is precisely what
would be done at one stroke of a despot's pen.
Another fortnight scarcely would be allowed to
elapse (supposing them to be suddenly conjured
over from London to Paris) before South wark-
bridge, and Waterloo-bridge, and Hungerford-
bridge would be opened from that time
forth in perpetuity without the chance of
their echoing any more at either extremity
to the sordid jingle of so many miserable
halfpence. The immediate expenditure would
be immense, of course, but the advantages
resulting from that expenditure would at the
same time be scarcely in any way at all calculable.
What we really appear to want just now in regard
to our metropolitan improvements—" not to put
too fine a point upon it," as Mr. SNAGSBY would
say—is the inauguration of a dictatorship of un-
limited power, but of limited duration, at the
head of the Public Works Department.
.Then we might hope to get rid at last of any
further tolls at Southwark, Waterloo, and Hun-
gerford Bridges—we might hope to gee Middle-
row swept away frcm Holborn and Holywell-
street from the Strand—we might hope to have
the Thames purified, St. Paul's opened up to the
River, and the access to London by the Silent
Highway rendered permanently magnificent b a
series of grand and solid parallel embankments !

Among the amiable and certainly very pardon-
able weaknesses, if it be a weakness, of human
nature, is the desire most men experience who
have won distinction, to be especially honoured
in the place of their nativity. High as their
ambition
may have soared, and great as may have
been its success, nothing, in all probability, in
the shape of reward is more acceptable to such
men—is anticipated with greater pride :Ind satis-
faction than the plaudits of those who axe associ-
ated with their earliest recollections. Perhaps it
is wrong to describe as a weakness that which in
the nature of things must be an incentive to noble
deeds, quite as powerful as others which are gene-
rally founnd placed in the most prominent part of
the category. Be this as it may, our readers,
we doubt not, like ourselves, have been pleased
to observe how generally this desire has been gra-
tified in the case of those gallant officers who
most signally distinguished themselves in the
Crimea. The fact is honourable to both parties,
to those who have gratified the desire in question
as well as those who have most deservedly hac,l. it

gratified, and hardly in any case more honourable

than in that of Major-General WINDHAM, "the
hero of the Redan."

How nobly the gallant General acquitted him-'
self in the final and most disastrous assault of the
stronghold with which his name will long be asso-
ciated
it is altogether needless to recount. This
much, however, may be remarked, the fame and
position he has acquired were fairly and
gallantly won, and amply justified the
grand banquet given in his honour, and the pre-
sentation made to him the other day at Norwich.
Where there was much failure, that man certainly
was deserving of high praise and of warm grati-
tude who did his duty, and did it nobly. Had
any justification been wanting for the honour done
him by the people of his county, his speech at
the banquet, we fancy the reader will agree with
us in thinking, would have more than supplied it.
The tone of it was as manly as the valour that
gave rise to it, and the generosity as great as the
self-devotion that plucked him from obscurity.
The hero of the day's rejoicings, far from being
engrossed with the mouthing of his own claims to
honour and popular gratitude, expended in the
true spirit of chivalry his best eloquence in pre-
ferring the claims of others. He himself had
done his duty and been fortunate in an oppor-
tunity to earn special distinction ; but
many brave and able men had equally
done their duty, and would have won
as much fame as himself had they been
equally fortunate. This was the burden of his
remarks. We don't think, and the public won't

think, any worse of him for it—no, not though it
be admitted that in the main he spoke the truth.
There were many brave men in the Crimea who
served their country as ably as they served it
heartily, and who, had occasion presented itself,
would have earned distinction, in all probability,
of a high order. It is, however, what has been
rather than what might have been achieved the
country is grateful for. Applying, still, a
severer test, the presumption, it must be ad-
mitted, is strongly in favour of such men as
General WLNDHAM, who prove themselves as
generous in the triumph as they have proved
themselves heroic in the field. While, therefore,

we would not consign to oblivion valour and en-
durance but partially known and acknowledged,
in order to swell the fame of more fortunate sol-
diers, we feel a double pleasure in responding to
the claims of such men as " the hero of the
Redan," who, however much he may owe to acci-
dent, owes, or is likely to owe, still more to a fine
chivalrous nature. Holding him in such esteem,
it becomes an obligation to warn him of a danger
to which he is at present exposed. Let him
beware of being enmeshed by " the system !" A
NELSON only could break through its folds and
escape unhurt from its deadly influences.

THE MINISERY.—Lord Palmerston, Mr. V. Smith,
and Sir G. Lewis continue in London. Lord Panmure
has gone to Scotland. Earl Granville is absent on his
embass. &c the Emperor of Russia. Sir G. Grey is ac-
compa jiDg the First Lord of the Admiralty on official
..)ions in the vicinity of Portsmouth. Lord Claren-
Mr. Labouchere, Lord Lansdowne, and the Lord
Chancellor are resident within short distances of the me-
tropolis.
THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO ENGLAND.--Count de
Chreptowitch, the newly-appointed Russian ambassador
at London, and who has hitherto held the post of This-
alai Minister in Belgium, has arrived in Brussels. He
is to shortly have an audience of King Leopold to de-
liver the letters which put an end to his mission at the
Belgian court.
The Earl of Westmoreland, who went to Brussels
on a mission from her Majesty, to congratulate the
King of the Belgians on the 25th anniversary of his
ascension of the throne of Belgium, returned to town
Saturday, accompanied by Mr. Hy. D. Wolff, of the
Fore'gn Office.
The Earl and Countess Stanhope have left town for
Chevoniug Park, near SeleJnoaks.
The Earl and Countess Howe and Lady Adelaide
Curzan, who arrived at Cumin House on Thursday
from Romberg, have left town for Gospall Hall, Leices•
tershire.

The Earl of Portsmouth, with the countess, and the
infant Lord Lyneham, are now at Eggesford Park.
The Earl of Antrim, Lady John Beresford, Lady
Fulgrarn, and Sharman Crawford, Esq., arrived in Bel-
fast en Thursday morning.
The Earl and Countess of Clarendon left tows on
Saturday, on a visit to Mr. G. G. Harcourt, M.P., and
Frances Countess Waldegrave, at Nuneham-park, near
Oxford, where a distinguished circle is assembled.
The Earl of Jersey came to town on Friday from
Nliddleton-park, near Bicester, and bas since gone to
join the Countess and Lady Clementina Vinton, at
C ,wes, Isle of Wight.
'llse Marquis of Dalhousie, after a few days' stay in
town. has rtturned to Scotland. We are happy to adt',
the health of the noble marquis has greatly improved.
Tue Marquis and MarchieneFs of Abercorn and Lady
Louisa Hamilton left Chesterfield House on Friday last,
t. r Shngborough Park left Chesterfield House ma a
Nish to the Earl and Countess of Lichfield, after which
the noble marquis and marchioness and daughter go on
a visit to the Earl and Countess of Durham, at their
nett in Northumberland.
The Duke and Duclesse of Northumberland hava re•
turned to Aln wick Castle from a short visit to Scotland.

The Duks and Ducl ess of Norfolk, with the Earl o
Artadel and family, have arrived at Arundel Gaitle,
Sussex, from Berkshire.

The Duchess of Sutherland, accompanied by Lord
and Lady Blantyre, arrived at Stafford House on Satur-
duy, irotn Cliefden, the family seat, near Maidenhead.
Toe Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and the youth-
ful Ladies Scott left Montague House, Whitehall, on
Saturday for Worthing, to pass a few days at that de-
lightful watering-place.
Tuesday next is fixld for the opening of the Cater-
ham Railway for public traffic, in conjunction with the
London and Brighton and South Eastern Railway Com-
panies.
Tin Colime:ND in IRELAND4t is rumoured that
LiedLeonot-General Sir William.' odrington, K.C.8., is
to succeed General Lord Seaton, .in the nom•
mand of the troops stationed in Ireland.—United Service
Gazette.

Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie, 92d Highlanders,
lately from Btlaklava, is appointed an assistant quarter-
master-general of the Dublin district.
Prince Louis Lucien Bonaparte, on his arrival lately
from St. Sebastian at St. Jean de Luz, commenced a
course of sea-bathing. His Imperial Highnessl has taken
up his residence in the house of Cardinal Mazarin.
The Earl of Derby is still detained in town from a
severe attack of gout. It was owing to this illness that
the noble earl and c)untesa were prevented from visiting
the Duks and Duchess of Richmond at Goodwood dur-
ing the races.
The first railway was opened fir traffic in South Aus
tralia last April.
LYCEIIM.—Mr. Wm. Brough is engaged in writing
an extravaganza for the openiug of this theatre in Sep-
tember. Miss Woolgar and Mr. Toole, the low come-
dian, from Edinburgh,shave parts in it.
THE LIONS FOR TRAFALGAR-INTJAZE.—Month after
month—nay, year after year—goes by and finds the
Nelson monument still incomplete. There must be
gross dereliction of duty somewhere.—Art Journal.
FROME ELECTION.—The statement of the Sher-
_

borne Journal that the petition against the Hon. Major
Boyle's return bad been withdrawn is contradicted on
the part of Mr. Nicoll.
THE BANKING INTEREST.—The following appear, by
the hat returns, to be the deposits of the public (as dis-
tinguished from the deposits of the Government), in the
four principal banks of London :—Bank of England,
10,598,296/. ; London and Westminster Bank,
11,170,0101. ; Union Bank, 9,045,6061.; London
Joint-stook Bank, 7,873,9531.
In the cases of William Dove and James Murdoch,
condemned to death for murder, strong applirtions
have been made to the Secretary of State; but up to
this time Sir G. Grey has seen no just grounds for in-
terfering with the due course of law. The execution of
Murdoch is fixed for Tuesday next (to-morrow), and
Saturday next is appointed for the final punishment of
Dove.—Observer. •
THE FIRE NEAR COVENT-GARDEN—DEATH OF ONE
OF THE SUFFERERS.—The fire which took place on
Monday night last in the premises belonging to Mr.
Jacquet, oil and colourman, James-street, Covent-
garden, has, we regret to say, been already attended
with the loss of one life—viz , Mr. Bennett, the manager
of the establishment, and it is feared that his widow will
not long survive him, owing to the serious nature of the
burns she received. Mr. Bennett lingered in the most
excruciating agony until twelve o'clock on Saturday,
when death terminated his sufferings.
DEATH OF VISCOUNT CRANLEY.—We regret to an-
nounce the demise of Viscount Cranley, son of the Earl
of Ouslow, who expired at an early hour on Saturday
morning after a lingering illness, a pulmonary disease,
at Lady Marian Alford's residence at Princes Gate, to
which his lordship had only recently been removed.
The lamented deceased was only son of the Earl of On-
elow, and was born June 16, 1820. He married a few
years since Lady Amelia Cast, second daughter of the
late Earl Brownlow, by his second marriage with Lady
' Emma Sophia, eldest daughter of the late Earl of Mount
Edgecumbe. By his union with that lady he leaves
isme two youthful daughters. Several noble families
are placed in mourning by the mournful event,