The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-11 00:00:00

L J.NT ON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1856

A document prepared by the Ruszian Gover n-
meat, and which was forwarded in October to
the different Powers who seat representatives to
tho Conferences at Paris, has just been published.

All that relates to the questions for which the
Congress has ostensibly been convened appeared
in our impression of yesterday, so that every
person may form his own opinion respecting the
claims put forward by Russia to the retention of
the Isle of Serpents and New Bolgrad. It is

ndeed perfectly conclusive on both points, and
the Cabinet of St. Petersburg is convicted by its

own admissions of a most discreditable attempt
to take advantage of a deception practised by its

representatives on those with whom they were asso-
ciated—a deception that must for ever disqualify
the parties concerned from pretending to the

characters of men of honour and gentlemen• From
the nature of the defence put forward and the

ready adoption by the Russian Government of
the disgraceful act of its servants, we obtain an
insight into its very peculiar views on the subject
of diplomatic arrangements. With a pleasing
affectation of candour, an almost infantine aim-
' plicity, it acknowledges that it attempted. to take
advantage of a clear and palpable misconception
on the part of the other Powers. It, however,
thinks it a sufficient answer to say that its Pleni-
potentiaries did not originate the mistake. They
merely took advantage of it when it occurred.
They did not produce the maps ! Far from it !

"Painted in Russian they might not have ap
peared sufficiently intelligible to all the repre
sentatives at the Congress. They, therefore,
formed their conclusions from the examination of
a snap placed at their disposal by the care of the
French Government." Arguing on this state of
affairs, the Russian Government proceeds to say
—" This fact is worthy of mention ! It shows
that if the maps were faulty the responsibility
does not rest with the Russian Plenipotentiaries !"
This is, indeed, a novel doctrine. The parties are
convicted on their own confession of the suppressio
yeri, if not of the suggestio falsi ! It is not for a
moment pretended that they were ignorant of the
true state of affairs—that they had not at their
disposal maps which, although they might not be
" sufficiently intelligible" to all the representa-
tives, were thoroughly understood by themselves.
They were, therefore, fully aware that the Bolgrad
of which they represented the importance to Russia
without stating that its retention would violate
one of the chief principles on which Peace could
be obtained, by permitting the French map to be
used, without explaining its error, and they were
for ever stopped from questioning its accuracy.
It was to all intents and purposes the basis of the
arrangement; and when there is a Bolgrad,
although now artfully designated " Tabak,” that
fulfils all the conditions, it is perfectly clear that
must be the Bolgrad for which Russia appealed to
the assembled Plenipotentiaries.
On the point respecting the Isle of Serpents
tho argument of Russia
.is singularly fallacious,
although her conduct has not been quite so dis-
creditable. She declares that " the stipulations
refer to a demonstration on the main land, and
do not apply to the possession of an island
situate in the open sea. In fact no express
stipulation of the Treaty has either annexed to
Moldavia or adjudged to Turkey that Island,
which was incontestably in the possession of Russia
before the rupture !" And therefore Russia claims
as a waif what was not hers, because it has not
been expressly given either to Moldavia or to
Turkey. She forgets to say that it unquestion-
ably belonged to Turkey, and that her " occupa-
tion" was only tolerated for the purpose of guard-
ing the entrance of the Danube. She is no longer
the protector (?) of its navigation. The spirit of
the Treaty excludes her from any participation
therein, and as there was no " express stipula-
tion," the island must revert to its original
owner, as well from a due observance of the
principle on which the Treaty was founded as
from its geographical situation.
We are, however, to have the Congress, and
for what ? To save the honour of Russia ! That,
at least, is the avowed object—although, as we
yesterday explained, we fear there is an arrierc
pensie ; something in the back-ground, which,
like a lady's postscript, constitutes the most im-
portant part of the communication. But, surely,
Russian honour (?), if there be any such thing,
would have been better sustained, by yielding grace-
fully in the first instance, rather than in being
defeated by a majority of votes ! The Muscovite
organ in Belgium professes to give a history of
the transaction, and declares that every
thing is arranged, that " ten points,
which have been the subject of debate,
are now decided, and decided against Russia by
a majority of five votes to two ;" adding, with
apparent frankness, "on some future day Russia
will have her turn ; to-day it is England's." We
cannot, however, lay this flattering unction to
our souls. After the example of Russian diplo-
macy which we have just witnessed we must
distrust every profession. We cannot credit them
even when offering concessions. We still think
that the meeting of the Congress is a very un-
toward affair both for England and Turkey. Its
proceedings must be vigilantly watched, and re-
stricted to the alleged objects for which it was
convened. If Russia succumbs, and that no
other matters are introduced—that no improvi-
dent arrangements are concluded—well If
otherwise, we trust that the English Parliament
and people will know how to protect their own
interests, despite the sinister and unconstitutional
influences that may be brought into operation.
Germanism cannot, and must not, always remain
in the ascendant.

The Radical Electors of Lambeth had a treat
last evening iu listening for the space of an hour
or so to the "slashing" speech of WlLereem
WILLIAms, their thoroughly independent repre-
sentative. It was on the occasion of his making
a clean breast of it according to annual custom—
by entering into a minute explanation of his
conduct as M.P. for Lambeth during the last
session of the Imperial Legislature. Always a
rare opportunity for the utterance of plain whole-
some truths by one 'oho occupies a seat in the
House of Commons neither as a partisan nor as a
place hunter. An opportunity not lost therefore
(as every one might have felt satisfied it could
not, who knows either the Lambeth constituency
or theLambeth representative); an opportunity not
I'4 in any one particular, by an iota, by a tittle,
by a hair's breadth by WILLIAM WILLIAMS,
MQrchant and Politician, Radical Reformer and
Political
to last, as Economist.
ive The whole Speech from first
part of our impressionalino s t ifiestiimhasiaaverb in
evening,
c wilalnaomt
phleyr
repay the reader of it for the trifling labour
poaf
rt its
of
perusal. swalirda
,:sip,esciaelilypiantahtaintn_ptabroticenc!...a.er
or marrow of it
as
it
meBmnanara3bleto
one
us--hav-
ing reference to theas a whole,
division of
last session, redeeming
whichinfanlaYmong all the rest of the divisions
the one independent
dsaividiaifornom
of the year shone out in the charactetreof
national
etioonnalyl
division befitting the dignity of h
representatives. Need it be added that allusion
was here made by Mr. WILLIAMS to the bold,
blunt, brusque rejection, by the House of Com-
mons, of the pet Court project for removing the
National Gallery, at an immense expense to the
nee ioe, from Trafalgar-square, " the

Site in Europe," to a mere hole-in-the-
corner, a cluster of ex-market-gardens at Ken-
sington-gore? The Radical Member for Lambeth,
speaking of that monstrous and preposterous
scheme, point-blank, as it ought alone to be
spoken of, namely, in terms of unqualified and
derisive condemnation, mentioned the circum-
stance of its rejection, thus plainly, last evening,
we doubt not, to the infinite delight of his Lam-
beth constituents—" That project was pro-
moted by Prince ALBERT and his party in the
Court—it was supported by the Government and
all their tools, and it was also supported by the
Opposition, headed by Mr. DISZAELI, and
all their tools, but the independent mem-
bers were too strong even for that combination and
the bill was thrown out." A succinct ac-
count of the matter, so the reporter intimates,
greeted by the. auditors of Mr. WILLIAMS with
" Cheers," " Cheers and Laughter," and " Re-
newed Cheers"—interruptions in every respect,
we fancy, sufficiently significant ! Mr. WILLIAMS,
however, by no means contented himself with this
exceedingly sententious and forceful record of the
ever-memorable rejection of Prince ALBERT'S
Hobby, by the House of Commons. He went so
much further than that, as the short-handwrites is
the means of informing the general community,
that he declared " the Kensington-gore Job"
to be " ono of the grossest " of which he had
ever heard—the Prince CONSORT and the Prince
CONSORT'S most courtly toad-eaters to the
contrary, nevertheless notwithstanding ! Simul-
taneously with the enunciation of which
plain truths, be it said—a rather notable
little straw has been flung up to show
which way the wind blows, in the shape of an
announcement by Messrs. SAUNDBBS and OTLEY
of a forthcoming pamphlet, entitled, " PRINCE
ALBERT—Why is he Unpopular 7" Perhaps a few
of us, just a few of us, could tell almost as tersely
and lucidly as even WILLIAM WILLIAMS, M.P.
for the borough of Lambeth—the Why and the
Wherefore ! A word in the ear of Farmer Bum,—
taking him by the button-hole and whispering the
nquiry under his broad brim in a stage whisper)
—Don't you think it probable ?

T. PERRONET THOMPSON, Major-General, MP,
for Finsbury ! How does it read ? Could any.
thing read better ? Hardly—in that way—to
our thinking. General THOMPSON is just the matt
for Finsbury, and Finsbury itself just the place
for General Thomrsorr. The gallant Corn-Law
Catechist has been too long out of Parliament.
The present is precisely, it appears to us, the very
opportunity for his re-entrance into the popular
branch of the Legislature. The constituency Of
Finsbury is dissatisfied it seems—and no wonder
-with the latterly inadequate state of their re-
presentation. Alderman CHALLIS has hardly come
up to the electors' anticipations. He is not active
enough, industrious enough, indefatigable enough
in his attendance in the House of Commons. A
rather serious matter to an earnest metropolitan
constituency at all times and under all cir-
cumstances—but especially so when " the other''
Member continues still, in a great measure, to the
grief of his friends and the disappointment of his
admirers, an apparently confirmed Valetudinarian.
Out of a grateful recollection of old days, Finsbury
can content itself with merely regretting the cause
of the frequent non-attendance in the House of
THOMAS SLINGSBY DUNCOMBE, of thoroughgoing,
outspoken, radical, democratic, glorious TOM
DIINOOMBE. He, at least, has earned a right to
some such reticence in the way of rebuke from
his constituents. But with Alderman CHALLIS it
is otherwise. Laxity of attendance on his part
i 3 inexcusable in their eyes, is unpardonable, and,
therefore, as a matter of course, if persisted in, an
evil to be at once avenged and expiated. So
unmistakably is this the case that the more
active among the possessors of the elective
franchise in Finsbury are, at last, we ob-
serve, and, in real earnest, beginning to be-
stir themselves. They are solicitous of ridding
themselves as speedily as possible of their political
ne'er-do-well. Wherefore the present, honestly,
appears to us the very opportunity for General
THOMPSON; the very opportunity for his reappear-
ance as a candidate for the votes of a great Liberal
constituency; the very opportunity for his return
upon the heads of the people to his old and
honourable post in the National Legislature.
The readmission into the House of Commons of
the gallant and veteran Reformer in the character
of the chosen representative of a metropolitan
constituency—would be compensation for all the
rather ungrateful want of consideration he has
now for some time past been somewhat bitterly ex-
periencing. It would be a clear gain, moreover, to
the electors of Finsbury. THOMAS DUNCOMBE
would have a worthy and energetic colleague ;
while THOMAS WAKLEY, but poorly followed in
that capacity by THOMAS CHALLIS, would at
length have an abler though a tardier suc-
cessor in THOMAS PERRONET THOMPSON. There
is good omen, we are almost tempted to think,
in the curious little circumstance of the identity
of Christian names—Finsbury being apparently
wealded, for some years past, to the notion of
having a THOMAS Somebody as its representative !
Better, surely, than a THOMAS Nobody like
Alderman C.A.Lus, a real and genuine " Somebody"
like General THOMPSON, one of the oldest and
ablest, one of the most consistent and persevering
of our great Radical Reformers. He at least
would work. He at least, we warrant it, would
be absent from no division (except by reason of
some dire necessity), whether important or unim-
portant. General THOMPSON, again we say, is the
very man for Finsbury, and Finsbury, it appears
to us, is precisely the ♦ery place for General
THOMPSON.

DEFAUTTIRE OF PRINCE FREDERICK OF PRUSSIA.—
DOVER, Wednesday.—His Royal Highness Prince Fre-
derick of Prussia, accompanied by Captain De Roe,
equerry to his Royal Highness Prince Albert, arrived
this evening at Dover, by special train from Portsmouth,
via Hastings, at 7.34 p.m., and embarked immediately
on board toe Admiralty yacht Vivid, for Calais.
THE DARIEN CANAL.—Dr. Cullen had an interview
on Tuesday, at the Hydrographic Office, Admiralty,
with Captain Washington, on the subject of the pro
posed survey of the Darien ship canal route.
THE AMERICAN MAILS.—LIVERPOOL, Dec. 10.—The
United States mail steamer Baltic, Captain Comstock,
left the Mersey this morning, at 10 o'clock, for New
York, with the usual mails, a full cargo, and 93 pas-
sengers.

At a meeting of the Colonial Gold Mining Company
held yesterday a resolution was passed authorising an
immediate dissolution.

About 120,000/, of the gold brought by the True
Briton was sold to the Bank yesterday, and a further
sum of 80,0001. is expected to be taken there to-day.
The stock of specie in the National Bank at Vienna
experienced a farther increase of 170,0001. during No-
vember, and now stands at 8,515,0001., showing an
increase of 3,420,000/. since the beginning of the year.
Cape of Good Hope papers have been received to the
15th October, but they contain little of iraPbrtanoe.
News had arrived of the intended despatet of the Ger-
man Legion from this country, and the prospect of their
coming seemed to be regarded with satisfaction. The
apprehensions respecting a new Ca
to have subsided. From Natr,: fire outbreak appear
the dates were to the
0:e of the entire separation of
2to4atth
cSoelopoty.
from
me
thec
CP:Lie of Good Hope had been well
received.

VERY REV. THE DEAN OF CASHEL:
—lt is HOF
ifrourPJ,lnful duty to record the death of the Very
Dean of Cashel, yesterday, at hie residence,
Nrtevorititlhae
nti,s, county Cavan. The lamented deceased had
spent a, long life of usefulness, having attained the age
of Cs. His loss will be greatly felt in that part of the
Country, where his peculiar kindness as a landlord and
affection as a clergyman endeared him to all classes.
The poor have lost in him a benefactor, and the wealthy
a faithful friend and eagaoiona councillor.—Evening Post,