The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-06 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1858.

During the intervals of Parliamentary warfare,
when the Imperial Palace no longer echoes the
voices of party leaders, great and g3neral interest
is felt in the social or other meetings, at which
the views of distinguished men are elicited. Hints

are sometimes thrown out sufficient to excite ape•

culation ; and omens are as carefully scrutinised,
and auguries deduced, by politicians of every
shade and variety of political opinion, as by the
soothsayers of the olden time. It is not, how-
ever, from the entrails of dying victims, the flight
of birds, or the pouring forth of votive goblets,
that the signs are collected, the auspices formed.
Joints, the best that can be obtained, are cooked
in a manner worthy of the illustrious SOYER.

The wings of rare birds are certainly in use, bu
not in flying away, either to the right or left

The precious conteut3 of the goblets are not, spilled

on the thirsty earth. The libations are devoted
to better purposes, and cheer and sustain the
hearts of the joyous guests—the precepts of the

teetotallers to the contrary notwithstanding.
The Lord Mayor's Easter banquet to the lead-
ing members of Her MAJESTY'S Government, may
be regarded as one of the most important of these

demonstrations. The advisers of the Crown are

brought face to face with influential citizens of the
British metropolis, the great majority of whom

are members of the first Corporation in the world

The Chief Magistrate, second only to Royalty for
the time being, displays a right regal hospitality.
He presides over a meeting attended by many of
the magistrates of the land, has his health gener-
ally proposed by a Prince of the Blood, and finds
the Commander-in-Chief and the First Lord of
the Admiralty responding on behalf of the united
services, while the head of the Cabinet, the head
of the Law, and the leaders of both Houses of
Parliament are ready to acknowledge the courtesy
of the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of
London I The successor of WHITTINOTON, and
innumerable worthies, all of whom had given evi-
dences of successful industry, or they would not

have been elevated to so enviable a position
The feast last night was no exception to the
general rule. The Duke of CAMBRIDGE very
clearly and eloquently returned thanks for the
army, and gave some sound advice which elicited
rapturous cheering. He showed that we should
not lose sight of the great lesson and warning we
have received, or imagine that a great Power can
ever exist without being liable, even in the midst
of seeming security, to serious dangers, to meet
which, the army and navy must ever be kept in a
state of the highest efficiency. For this, extra-
vagance is not necessary nor even advantageous,
at the same time it would be but a short-sighted
policy that would grudge any judicious outlay
that could enhance that efficiency on which the
welfare and even the security of the nation may
so greatly depend.
The Earl of DERBY, while abstaining from dis-
cussing vexed political questions, very happily
alluded to the duties of every Ministry, which
must in ninety-nine parts out of a hundred be the
same, whatever party holds the reins of power. He
also lightly touched on the India Bill, and pointed
out the difficulties connected therewith. The
Government courted discussion, they courted sug-
gestions, they courted the co-operation and advice
of Parliament. They only deprecated that a
question, involving such mighty interests, and of
such overwhelming importance, should be con-
sidered, not in a spirit of political controversy,
but of fair and dispassionate argument. It would
indeed reflect deep discredit on our representa-
tive institutions, of which Englishmen are so justly
proud, if such a subject could be made the battle
ground of contending parties.
The LORD MAYOR, in proposing " The House
of Commons," coupling with it the health of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, made a satisfactory
announcement, of which the Right Honourable
Gentleman was not slow to avail himself. His
Lordship, after hinting at " the little bill " be-
queathed by Sir G. C. LEWIS, spoke in a manner
befitting the representative of " Citizens of credit
and renown," who were always willing to answer
cheerfully all just demands on their purses. And
the Financial Minister recognised the disin-
terested declaration, made on behalf of the City,
wdiethaefireenschYcoinuratligee
to come forwardwwhaierhd
to p
Treasury, i supplye
for the discharge of his arduous duty. The re-
nsinspired
him
the
sponsibility does not, however, rest on the present
Ministers, but on their predecessors. We explained
lat the commencement cf last session that there
must inevitably be a deficit, and as that deficit was
occasioned by the plans of Sir G. C. LEWIS,
neither his colleagues nor their followers should
complain of the Ministers for devising new means
of meeting the demands on the national purse—
means which must' be distasteful to many ; for
we have never yet heard of a popular tax. The