The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-03 00:00:00

and very reasonably deeming the communication to
be perfectly genuine ! Here is a printed circular
for which the honest English tradesman had to
pay Bd., and in which he is insulted as a man of
common sense, and as a loyal subject and an ear-
nest Christian—by some wretched, infernal, de-
mented scheme of Socialism and Communism. Re-
minded, in the first place, very superfluously, that
there are some 30,000,000 inhabitants in these
islands, he learns how it is proposed that these
30,000,000 shall be divided into 3,000 communities
—each communal palace having 10,000 men, women,
and children. He is taught thereupon how, in the
style of Tom HOOD'S facetious Sonnet on the cur-
rent month—

" No flowers, no trees, no fruit, no bees,
No warmth, no light, November."
there are, by means of this Socialist-Communist
organisation, to be thenceforth—" No vice. No
crime. No soil robbery. No coined money. No
frauds, usury, or bankruptcy." The document
further informs him, incoherently—" All for one
and one for all. Instruction and education univer-
sal. Nature's children. State Funds. Science
and Art to aid Nature. Armies abolished—
also marriages. Philosophy to replace religion"
and a few other trifling propositions of the
like kind. For all which outrages upon his faith
as a Christian, his loyalty as a subject, his home-
love as a father and a husband, the honest, loyal,
rational, indignant tradesman finds that he has been
impudently robbed of Bd. We cannot possibly
induce ourselves to regard that as in any way
trivial. We look upon it as an outrage that the
community ought to be spared. It is the revelation
of an abominable system. The Government, we
cannot but think, might well interfere with a view
to its prevention. There ought to be facilities for
the reimbursing of the money of which the indus-
trious mechanics and shopkeepers are thus shame-
fully defrauded. The Post-office authorities ought
to be empowered to trace back, if possible, these vile
and baneful circulars to the persons by whom they
have been transmitted ; and upon those pests to
society there ought then to descend a heavy, con-
dign, summary punishment.

Scarcely any one has yet ventured seriously to
take in hand the great and paramount question of
Parliamentary Reform. Among all the speeches
recently delivered in the provinces, by members of
the Legislature more or less distinguished, not
more than two or three have hitherto come to the
point frankly. Mr. WYLD has spoken over at
Bodmin—Mr. BRIGHT has spoken twice at Bir-
mingham. But that is really all we have yet
heard about Reform during the whole of this long
vacation. The subject has, by almost every other
speaker, been carefully shirked. Harangues have
been delivered by the hour and reported by the
column—about almost everything else in the wide
world of politics saving and excepting the one most
important topic of all. Lord JOHN has expatiated
upon the advantages of the codification of the laws
of England. Lord BROUGHAM has descanted wisely
upon periodical literature, and yet more wisely
upon the higher mathematics. Mr. SIDNEY HER-
BERT has indulged us with a few whimsical crotchets
of his upon the organisation of journalism. Mr.
ROEBUCK has snarled at Cherbourg. Lord PAL-
MERSTON has pertinaciously held his peace. Mr.
GLADSTONE has spoken eloquently upon the art of
music. Lord HARDWICKE has descanted upon the
navy. Mr. HENLEY has imparted to the public
several ingenious philological definitions of Progress
and Conservatism. The Marquis of SALISBURY
has adroitly spoken without saying anything. Sir
JOHN PAKINGTON has had a few pertinent words
to utter upon the problem involved in the reclama-
tion of discharged prisoners. Lord JOHN MANNERS
has consistently advanced his former avowed
opinions in regard to the advantages accruing
from the encouragement of manly sports and
athletic amusements. A few others have spoken,
and a great many more have remained silent.
But with one or two rare exceptions, like the
member for Bodmin and the member for Birming-
ham—all have avoided the theme of Parliamentary
Reform as either perilous or inconvenient.
Happily, there will be no option when Parlia-
ment shall have re-assembled in February. Then—
allmu.st avow their opinions upon the subject, either
by speech or vote. Reticence will be no longer
possible, such as that recently indulged in by the
chiefs of the Government and the Opposition. The
tantalising topic, variously regarded as a hope or
as a terror, can no longer remain dangling before
the country, but must lie at last, in the form of ,
a substantial project, upon the table of the Legis-
lature.

The Cabinet again assembles in council after its
long dispersion. Let us hope that its meetings in
solemn conclave may be auspicious of some com•
prehensive measures—such as have come at last to
be inevitable from some party or another—measures
profoundly affecting the constitution of Parliament
itself. Another3quarter of a year and the session
will have commenced. It rests with the Ministry
whether it will be prepared or not for the then un-
avoidable emergency. 1859 is at this moment
open to Reform. The Indian difficulty has, at any
rate, been temporarily solved. There is general
tranquillity in Europe. The Chinese war has been
happily brought to a conclusion. Our momentary
differences with America have been as happily ter-
minated. Our alliances with France and others of
the great Powers remain intact. The approaching
Parliamentary session is in no other way forestalled.
1859, we repeat, is open to Reform. Let it be so
regarded at once by the Government and the
Opposition and all will be well. Let either side
frankly accept the turning point of all—the Ballot
—and .the day is theirs !

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, Nov. 2.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Alice dined with her
Majesty yesterday. The Earl and Countess of Clarendon
and Captain Grey, Rifle Brigade, who arrived in the after-
noon, had the honour of being included.
Mr. Kratky Baschik had the honour of exhibiting his
feats of legerdemain yesterday evening before her Majesty,
his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, the Royal children,
the Prince and Princess of Leiningon, and the party
assembled in the Castle.

The Queen, with the Princess Alice, walked and drove
in the Homo Park this morning.

His Royal Highness the Prince Consort, accompanied
by the Prince of Leiningen, went out shooting.
Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, and Princess Louisa took
a carriage drive.

Lady Macdonald has succeeded the Countess of Caledon
as Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen.
gLord Raglan and Mr. J. R. Ormsby Gore have suc-
ceeded the Earl of Verulam and Colonel the Hon. A.
Liddell as Lord and Groom in Waiting to Her Majesty.

Mr. Childers had an interview with Sir E.
Bulwer Lytton yesterday at the Colonial-office.

We understand that a marriage is arranged, and
will shortly take place, between Mr. Edgar Drummond, son
of Mr. and Lady Elizabeth Drummond, and the Hon.
Louisa Pennington, sister of Lord Muncaster.

His Excellency the Sardinian Minister has re-
turned to town from visiting Lord and Lady John Russell
at Pembroke Lodge, Richmond.

The Earl of Malmesbury, who left town with the
countess on Saturday for Heron Court, near Christchurch,
returns to town to-day, in order to attend the Cabinet Coun-
cil at the Chancellor of the Exchequer's official residence in
Downing-street.

The Countess of Craven and Lady Beatrice
Craven and Viscount Uffington arrived at the family man-
sion in Charles-street on Monday, from Ashdown Park, for
a few days,