The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-03 00:00:00

just been promulgated at St. Petersburg, if we
are to credit a generally well-informed contem-
porary—The Observer. It is positively asserted
that Count WALEWSKI, the French Minister for
Foreign Affairs, and President of the Parisian
Conferences—who is by birth a Pole, is to have
the Polish Estates of his family—long since con-
fiscated by the Government of St. Petersburg—
restored to him again, "far his services to the
CZAR in the late war." This is, indeed, a startling
announcement ! What are these valuable "ser-
vices," that are to be compensated by so rich
a reward ? Count WALEWSKI was the
Minister of France, on whom the chief
responsibility for the management of the war
rested. If he acted faithfully to his adopted
country he must have irrevocably cast off the
allegiance due to the Autocrat, and to the best
and utmost of his abilities endeavoured to pro-
mote a state of affairs by no means satisfactory
to, or compatible with, the interests of Russia.
And what is even of still greater importance, will
be either president or a leading and influential
member of the New Conferences, supplemental
to those that effectuated in the Precious Treaty.
The CZAR'S gratitude for important " services"
during the late war may, therefore, be something
analogous to that of sundry " waiters on PROVI-
DENCE," which has been defined as a lively sense
of favours to come.

But whether the boon be for the past, the
present, or the future, it is deserving of attentive
consideration on the part of the English Govern-
ment. If Count WALEWSKI has indeed obtained
possession of his hereditary estates he is the
vassal of Russia, and may be recalled at
any moment when he is not sufficiently sub-
missive to the will of his Autocratic master.
It is therefore his interest to conciliate the Govern-
ment of St. Petersburg, and it cannot be sup-
posed that he will hold the scales with an im-
partial hand in his position as President of the
forthcoming Conferences. In such a position a
man should be "above suspicion," and as that
cannot possibly be the case, Count WALEWSKI
should be relieved from further labour, and some
person substituted not affected by so many con-
flicting influences.

Complaints have already been put forward on
the part of Russia respecting the continuance
of the English fleet in the Euxine And it is
more than hinted that France has not very cor-
dially concurred in the policy of the PALMERSTON
Cabinet ; that she is drawing more closely the
ties by which she is connected with Russia ;
while those cemented by the blood of her own
gallant soldiers and those of England have been
perceptibly loosened. There are said to be serious
differences of opinion between the diplomatists at
the Porte, but whatever may be the case, and no
matter who may be opposed to it, the British
squadron cannot leave the waters of the Black
Sea until Russia has fully and fairly performed
her part of the contract, and the rectification of the
Bessarabian frontier has been completed. The case
is altogether different from that of the Austrian
occupation.. England cannot by any possibility
be even suspected of sinister designs respecting
the acquisition of territory. She only looks to
matters of " European" interest so far as the
Principalities are concerned. Besides, the sailors
are not supported at tho expense of the inhabi-
tants. Their presence is hailed as a welcome boon,
not an almost intolerable burden. They may
protect—they cannot oppress—or injure the
people.

The final arrangement of the form of govern-
ment in thc.qe important provifices is
matter of deep interest. But it can scarcely be
satisfactorily arranged so long as the Austrian
troops maintain their hold and tyrannise over the
people—we might just as well expect a fair elec-
tion in Kansas as in Moldavia or Wallachia. If left
to themselves the people would arrive at a pro-
per decision. They are not of Sclavonic origin,
and although many of the magnates may have
yielded to the gentle persuasions of Russia, and
although many profess " the orthodox creed,"
they would still, under judicious arrangements, act
as a barrier against Muscovite aggression, and
divide it from Provinces where its arts might, in
consequence, prove far more injurious to the
peace and tranquillity of Europe. The
issue is, indeed, one of vast weight, and
it should receive the calm and attentive conside-
ration it so eminently merits from persons of
whose disinterestedness and impartiality no rea-
sonable doubt can be entertained.

It is to be hoped the Chairman of the Metro-
politan Board is familiar with the process said to
be in vogue among the genus Tartuffe—to wit,
facial flat ironing, or we may have the actors
laughing at the farce--which is to come off on
Wednesday next—during the performance. On
that day Mr. THWAITES, accompanied by Mr.
BA ZALGETTE, the Engineer and the Clerk to the
Board, is to wait on Sir BENJAMIN HALL, the
Chief Commissioner of Works, and submit for his
approval what the Metropolitan Board have done
in relation to the sewerage. The fun of the affair
(doleful enough) is—this is in decided antagonism
to what the Chief Commissioner is bound to insist
on, and as perverse an evasion of duty as it is
foolish, both parties being fully aware that it is
so. A thorough command of countenance would
seem to be indispensable to either, in presenting
or receiving a plan which, after being twice re-
jected, has again been decided on. It is just
possible, however, Sir BENJAMIN HALL may see
no fun in the matter, and while taking the onus
attempted to be thrust on him may administer a
stern rebuke to the miserable incompetents whose
petty spleen directed against him will infallibly
recoil on themselves, because injurious in its
effects to the public. The head of the deputation,
if opposed, as he is said to be, to the plan, can
hardly be further mortified, and certainly so far
as the members are concerned reproof was never
better deserved. Sir BENJAMIN cannot well ad-
minister it with too great severity, provided ho
does so in a manlier divested of all traces of per-
sonality.

The members of the Board will find themselves
to have been grievously deceived when they de
tided on so disreputable a course. The cry of
economy, on which they expect to evade their '
duty with impunity, is not likely to serve their
turn. The real animus of their procedure is seen
through, and they must not look for sympathy
from the intelligent population. It was not to
indulge in squabbles or set themselves in perverse
hostility to the Board of Works they were re-
turned by the Local Boards. It was to grapple
with mighty evils--evils affecting the health and
welfare of a population larger than goes to consti-
tute a European kingdom—evils whose ravages
may be teen in many a wasted form and many an
untimely grave. It was to render London a
healthy metropolis, worthy of the greatest conn-*
try on the face of the globe—a task worthy of
freemen, involving the highest credit to those who
achieved it, and the deepest disgrace to those who
proved themselves unequal to it. That the Board
is not in the way of earning the honour; but has
already achieved the disgrace, will hardly admit
of doubt. The plan they h♦ve decided on and