The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-16 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAT—Morn., 34 min. aft. 2—Even., 50 min. aft. 2
To-MORROW —Morn., 5 min. aft. 3 --Even., 23 min aft. 3

THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, MARCH 16.
IatsXOMETII3, IN THE SHADE.
53—highest since noon yesterday.
50—lowest this morning and during the night.
sS—this day at ❑oon.
BAROMETER, 30.09.

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LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1858.

The first onslaught has been made on the new
Administration. Mr. OSBORNE has shaken off the
taciturnity of more than five years, and happily
avoided the operation of any Parliamentary
Statute of Limitations. We rejoiced to hear the
"once familiar voice" once more—to witness the
"light and tight young Barnacle" perform his
hornpipe without the restraining fetters. He
made much of his recovered freedom, and pranced
and curvetted in goodly style. He wanted vio-
lently and immediately a declaration of the
Ministerial policy. In his newly-assumed prudery,
no reticence is to be tolerated. The Imperial Palace
at Westminster is become a Palac© of Truth,
in which every thought must be clearly reflected.
The old Administration might properly refrain
from giving the slightest hint as to their long
promised and anxiously looked for Reform Bill ;
but their successors must be prepared to enter into
the most minutedetails, and that, without a moment's
delay, on every question that may be suggested.
It was not merely Parliamentary Reform that
troubled his mind—there were also Church-rates,
the Oaths Bill, or Jew Bill, as it is more gener-
ally designated, the Bank Charter, Education,
and, though last not least, the Maynooth
Grant. Truly the Leader of the House of
Commons had to tread through " rough and
dangerous ways" in following his active assailant.
But the ex-Secretary of the Admiralty found
to his cost that the Ministers could produce "
ROLAND for his OLIVER." It was something to
bring forth the champion of the Derbyites, armed
cap-d-pie, to resist the "guerilla" attack, to prc-
duce a movement of the main body, when there was
merely an affair of outposts. The onslaught was
merely that of a single member. Neither of the
aspirants for office supported it, but they looked
on with interest, and regarded with grim approval
the passage at arms between their late henchman
and the intruders on the sacred threshold.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, as might be
easily anticipated, well maintained his ground.
The honour of the Government lost nothing in
his hands. He revealed just what he wished to
reveal, but nothing more. His armour of proof
defended him against the light attacks of his
opponent, which, although annoying, were by no
means formidable. Everything will be told in due
time. There will be no improper procrastination !
There may be differences of opinion in the
Cabinet, but there were the same in
that of Lord PALMERSTON. Mr. OSBORNE Cha-
u many points from his official superiors,
and
u very properly permitted to take his own
`l iuber;*
o,7t,l7:ptteno,ithe
should there not be equal
present Government ?
The Conspiracyhll has t con,;higned to the
" tomb of all the
has been strenuously supported 1)i thee eji:w BLII
or
of the Exchequer and the First Lord of theeelA.l7
rairaitp The best prospect of a satisfactory
settlement may be hoped for from their efforts.
Church-rate must be abolished ; and, pre.
vided the obnoxious impost be annihilated,
it signifies little by whom it may be
accomplished, or where the St. GEORGE may
be found to destroy the ecclesiastical Dragon.
As to the Bank Charter Act, we know that Sir
G. O. LEWIS would do nothing, but we may
place some degree of confidence in Mr. DISRAELI ;

and the same may be said respecting a
the income tax. He was the only
financial Minister that recognised the slightest
distinction between the hard earnings of industry
and the dividend, interest or annual produce of
accumulated and realised property. As to the
Reform Bill, we have already yielded breathing
time, and we believe the chances are far better
than they would have been had Lord PAL)IERSTON
remained in office. Mr. OSBOB.NE did what he
had to do well ; but it w•ould have been far better
for his party had the episode been omitted.
Mr. HORSMAN, in his speech, clearly and dis-
tinctly expressed the feelings of every true-
hearted, sincere, and disinterested Liberal. He
acquitted the Government of anything that could
by any possibility be tortured into a charge
of unfairness or intrigue. In opposition they had
displayed great moderation and forbearance, and
had therefore a just claim to courtesy on the op-
posite side. Great measures will unquestionably
be introduced, and that will be the time for
those who have only the welfare, happiness, and
prosperity of the nation at heart. Mr. OSBORNE
may cause annoyance, although inflicting no real
injury. Mr. HORSILAN'S is unquestionably the
more judicious, as well as the more straightfor-
ward and manly, course.

The despatches which were laid before Parlia-
ment last night, and which appeared in our third
edition of yesterday, prove that the " painful
misconceptiona" between the Governments of
England and France, have really terminated. So
far the nation has every cause to approve of the
conduct of the new Administration. The alliance,
so important to the interests of both countries,
and, we may add, of the civilised world, still sub-
sists, without the slightest sacrifice of honour on
either side. This is the more valuable inasmuch
as no great reliance can be placed on the perma-
nency of a reconciliation when a sting remains
rankling in one of the combatants. M. WiLnwsicr
was perfectly justified in declaring that such
a reconciliation could be " sincere and last-
ing only on one condition, namely, that
the honour of the one should never be sacri-
ficed to the honour of the other." This is the
true principle, and so long as it is maintained in
its integrity, there can be no serious danger—
nothing which a judicious and reasonable line of
policy cannot get rid of.
It is said that an affront properly arranged
becomes au obligation. Private individuals pe-
culiarly feel this, but the same rule is applicable
to nations and to Governments. There may be
faults on both sides—errors of judgment which
may be regretted, but which cannot be
amended, if too prominently seized on.
Lord DERBY had unquestionably, a great
opportunity. He thoroughly understood the
-tats- of the national mind. He listened to
the voice of public opinion, and acted thereon, and
he did it well. The despatch of the Foreign
Secretary in answer to that of the 20th January
was all that could be desired. There was no
bluster or bullying—nothing that could give
offence to a rational mind ; but there was a tem-
perate exposure of a great, and probably uninten-
tional insult, and a moderate invitation for
explanation. This was fairly responded to. It
is the act of a gentleman to apologise for any mis-
take, or for anything that could occasion a mistake.
Count WALEWSKI has pointed out what he calls
the " misconstruction," and we are bound to
believe him, and the international relations are
again placed on a satisfactory foundation, so far
at least as what may be termed the " refugee
controversy" is concerned.
Its policy will receive the approval of every
disinterested and unprejudiced person. It has
other difficulties to contend with, and not the
least onerous is the affair of the Cagliari, and
the protection of our two fellow-subjects who are
now incarcerated in a Neapolitan prison. When
men have judiciously surmounted one obstacle,
we are disposed to place greater confidence in
them with respect to another. The felicitous ter-
mination of the French discussion induces a hope
that the affair of the English Engineers may be
brought to an equally satisfactory conclusion.
It is now admitted that the late Government were
acting on inadequate premises. The actual facts
were unknown. It was supposed that the vessel
had been captured in the Neapolitan waters, and
therefore that the parties were amenable to the
Neapolitan law. This point has been questioned,
but not decided. The state of facts must
first be settled, and then it will be for
the Government to determine on the oourse
which the honour and dignity and iuteres:s
of Great Britain demand. On that point at
least we may confide in any occupant of office.
Neither Whig nor Tory, Conservative, or Radical,
would willingly sacrifice the national prestige. All
we desire to say is, that hitherto matters have
been as well managed as could be desired, and far
better than they could have been under the PAL-
MERSTON administration, owing to the grave
mistake that was committed in the first instanc,
and from which they could not, by any possibility,
have extricated themselves.

MINISTERIAL MEETING—(This Day .

The Earl of Derby h ►wing summoned a meeting
of his supporters in the House of Commons, up-
wards of 220 members responded to the invitation
of the noble lord.

The meeting was held at the official residence of
;hd First Lord of the Treasury, at 12 o'clock
;his day.
The greatest unanimity prevailed,

The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough have returned
to Blenheim, near Woodstock. Their graces have been
plunged into deep affliction by the premature demise,
after a very short illness, of their youngest son, Lord
Charles Spencer Churchill.
The Duke of Beaufort has taken the Earl of Eglinton's
mansion for a term. His grace arrived in town yester-
day, from Badminton.
The Earl and Countess Vane and their yoathful
family, on leaving Wynnstay after the disastrous fire at
that place, returned to the Cloughs, Newcastle-under-
Lyne the residence of Mr. Edwards, and from thence
came to Holderness House, Park-lane, where they are
at present staying. The loss of the Countess Vane's
jewels is estimated at 7,0001.

The Countess of Derby has issued cards for an as-
sembly on Saturday next, at the family mansion in St.
James's -sq uare.
The Earl of Stradbroke has returned to the Brunswick
Hotel, St. James's, from Henham 1:1,11, Suffolk.
Lady John Somerset has arrived in town, from
Enfield Court, for the season.

The Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Pierrepont have left
Clarige's Hotel, for Evenly Hall, near Brackley.
Sir Charles Wood hal taken the Duke of Devonshire's
mansion in Belgrave-square for a term. The right hon.
baronet will move from his late official residence at the
A.drniralty immediately.
tt,tr. nextand Lady Jane Levett are expected to arrive in
their
L new hwoeuek'for the season, and take possession of
L.
me in Coeabarn-atreet
xeut-General and M .
• CluogzarlipAluaociie,,tfroorm
iltterosn.tiA.netnet.hison, have arrived in
' Gloucester Journal that ZLy"—We learn from the
) the preliminary steps to t.rward
i
riiart Berkeley has taken
, J f Berkeley by tenure, w•,;.c.b. La: ?I,:riia to the Barony
family, and that his petition
presented. with th;tl;?lawit'llinh his
MILITIA ESTIMATES.—The supplementary estimates
required to make good the deficiency of the vote for the
e0m010500,00©1.1,
odied militia, for the year 1857-58, amounts to
5