The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-02 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1858.

Lord DERBY was fortunately so far recovered
from the painful malady under which he has been
suffering, as to be enabled, last night, to express
his views and opinions respecting the rival Oaths
Bills before the House. The Noble Lord ex-
pressed a preference for the measure introduced
by Lord LUCAN ; and the veteran LYNDHURST at
once gracefully yielded priority to the proposi-
tion which would receive Ministerial support, and
postponed his own proposition until the fate of
the other had been determined, one way or the
other.

Lord DEEBT made a graceful concession to
public opinion and the feeling of the other House.
He naturally was grateful for the respect and
deference exhibited for him personally by his bro-
ther Peers, an instance of forbearance and courtesy
that would not he bestowed on an ordinary man.
But it was particulally desirable that the senti•
meats of the Premier should be ascertained, so
that 'useless, and possibly irritating discussions
might be avoided. He was virtually the master
of the position, and could induce a certain propor-
tion of the opponents of Jewish Emancipation to
acknowledge the propriety of sacrificing their own
convictions and wishes on the altar of public
utility and convenience.

This may be termed " 4x2ediency," but that
word is not always to be used as a term cf re-
proach. If a man abandons a cherished principle
of vital importance—if he connives at that which
in his heart and soul he believes to be radically
wrong, for the sake of obtaining some personal
advantage, then the concession might properly be
questioned. But it is otherwise when he
only yields up his private predilections for the
purpose of obtaining a great public benefit. He
may yield on a point of what be considers
" expediency" to a still greater " expediency."
Were 'he to act otherwise, his conduct
would 'not be " firmness," but " obsti-
nacy," not, .".unflinebing determination," but
"wilful perversity."

As the head of the Government, Lord DERBY
was bound to look, not only to his individual

wishes or antipathies, but to the public welfare.
He must be sensible of the magnitude of the exist-
ing evil. The co-ordinate branches of the Legis-
lature are strongly opposed to each other on a
point which mainly affects the privileges of the
House of Commons. A collision which might
lead to very deplorable consequences was immi-
nent. And that Lord DERBY has averted by the
judicious course pursued, albeit with some degree
of reluctance. He candidly declared that he had
not alteredhis views as to the policy or expediency
of admitting Jews to be members of a Christian
Legislature, but having carefully, and anxiously
considered the question, he saw in the propositions
of Lords LYNDHURST and LUCAN the only possible
solutions of a difficulty which had lasted for ten
years, and the only chances of bringing the Houses
to an agreement. , _

Lord LUeAN was the Deus ex 7nachia4 who re-
moved the dead fix, and suggested a safe and
easy compromise. We confess that we should
ourselves have preferred the bill of Lord LYND-
HURST, but, like the distinguished author of
that measure, we willingly accept that of
the Gallant Earl, which enables each house
to judge for itself, and removes all
doubt as to the legality of the resolution, which
would certainly have been carried if their lord-
ships had remained obdurate.
On the accession of Lord DERBY to office, we
declared that a much greater prospect was thereby
afforded of obtaining a satisfactory solution of the
Jewish difficulty. That prediction has been veri-
fied, and there is another cause for rejoicing at
the termination of the PA.LMERSTON Dictatorship.
Nothing but the personal weight and authority of
the Premier in the Upper House could have
settled the question, and that authority has been
wisely and judiciously exercised. We may see
similar attention to the voice of public opinion in
other matters, which the public have deeply at
heart, and a great addition to the strength of
real Liberals, through the ejection from power
of those who advanced spurious claims to their

support.
Lord LIICAN'S Bill was read a second time by
a majority of 46, which ensures its ultimate adop-
tion by the Upper House, and, as a natural conse-
quence, by the entire Legislature.

Considerable progress was made with the
Government of India Bill in committee, last night,
and there is every reason to anticipate that it may
be brought before the Lords early neat
week, so that ample time may be afforded for
considering all its details without protracting the
Session beyond the present month, or subjecting
the members of either the hereditary or represen-
tative branch of the Legislature to the pestilential
atmosphere created by the horrible exhalations of
the foetid ditch, which was once "The silver-
winding Thames."
The party element has happily been eliminated.
Factious opposition has been got rid of, and the
interesting and important topic on which the wel-
fare and happiness of one hundred and fifty mil-
lions of British subjects so greatly depend, will be
disposed of on its real merit 4. This is all that
could be desired. Every point has reneived due
attention ; and their Lordships, notwithstanding
the Parliamentary fiction which ignores every-
thing that occurs in another place, are thoroughly
cognisant of the opinions and views put forward,
and qualified to pronounce judgment thereon.
Each disputed point was decided in favour of
the Government, either without a division or by
large majorities. • Mr. GLADSTONE did not test
the feelings of the House on his proposition--that
the first Members of the Council should be
named in the bill. Mr. VERNON SMITH'S
amendment was rejected by 146 to 71. Sir JAMES
GRAHAM was satisfied with bringing forward his
proposition without taking the sense of the House
in reference thereto. The only other points cn
which divisions were taken, were carried in favour
of the Government by 154 to 118, and 245 to
121 respectively.
Lord PALMERSTON led the Opposition in the
first instance. He desired that the limit of ser-
vice should be ten years, and that the Members
should not be re-eligible or capable of being
reappointed. It mie• tso happen that the moot
efficient Member ould thus be consigned to
private life at the very moment when
his services would be peculiarly valuable.
The Noble Lord has himself been in harness for
more than half a century, and he would think it
very hard, if he could not again hold office while
he wtylsstill in the enjoyment of a green old age.
The;House concurred in this view, and thought
that " during good behaviour," was a better

principle.
The 12th clause which disqualified Members of
Council from sitting in Parliament was discussed
at greater length, but was ultimately affirmed by
a majority of 124. Progress was then reported,
and leave was granted to sit agi.in this day, and
we hope to-morrow also to forwArd the bill.
As we have stated there is everyseason to hope
that the remaining points may be speedily
dis-
posed of, and that before the end of the session
the Royal Assent will be given to sound and well-
considered enactments for tha better government
of India. ,

The purification of the River Thames is an idea
altogether so new and hitherto so entirely un-
heard of, that as a matter of course a Parliamen-
tary Committee has begun to ha-id its sittings for
the purpose of inquiring into it; "The Thames,
the River Thames !—can it be possible ?—is it
really and truly what w© legislators are now as,
cured that it is (and has been, some people say,
for a long while)—impure, even pestilential?
Surely the thing is scarcely to be credited. Surely
the River Thames is rippling pellucidly and trans-
, parently between reedy, see gy banks from
Twickenham down to the sea, with
the trout discernible at the gravely bot-
tom, basking in the sunshine, while the swans
float at their halcyon leisure among the water-
lilies. The Thames foul ?—yet, stay, phew ! that
whiff of the sweet south' certainly never flat-
tered from a bank of violets, as SHAKSPERE has it,
stealing and giving odoucs'—whew ! the
zephyr's breath is somewhat abominable—pah !
better than breathe an atmosphere like this, shut
the doors and close the windows, though the time
is Midsummer ! " So—Parliament wakes from its
trance at last--rowes from its long day-dream
about the purity of the river—and, nearly sick
with the loathsome vapours floating from its sur-
face, begins to bestir itself in the matter, and in-
quire, half-distracted, like BEVERLEY in the
Gamester, " What's to be done ?" And so—never
having heard of the Thames Nuisance before,
the subje'ct being entirely new the HOUS9
of Commons forms a Committee of In-
quiry, and, according to the favourite phrase
of the story-books, " begins with tho be•
ginning." Hence day after cliy, the hest•
papers have their diurnal reports of " The Par-

liamentary Committee," giving a fulT, true, and
particular account of the investigation now beiog
made into—" The state of the River Thames."
Than this we do not conceive anything scarcely was
ever more preposterous. The state of the Thames,
forsooth i—the thing has long been notorious.
As well might a committee of inquiry have been

" Wake from thy nest, robin redbreast,
Sing birds in every furrow."
The cornet took, " Sweet air blow soft ;" the clarionet
with exquisite sweetness, breathed, " Wings from the
winds."
The concert cloned with another part song of Jackson's
—" Chorus a la Vales," also with full orchestral ac-
companiments, in which the trombone, the clarionet,
the cornet, and the piccolo were again deliciously pro-
minent. The trombone, amongst these, showed the
masteryof 8i
fdi'a7t, ai Ot l
this in9truccent possesses, and
its singular to a building of such magnificent
proportions,
ce.and of such peculiar construction as the
Crystal

HER -MAJESTY'S THEA.TRE.—Her aoyal Highness the
Duchess of Kent honoured the performance with her
presence yesterday evening.
'rue suite in attendance
upon her Itlyal Highnessincluded Lady Fanny Howard,
Lady Isabella Howard, Lady Anna Maria Dawson,
Mrs. Janes C ,uper, Col. Sir George Cooper, Bart.,
C.B , K.H. (Chief Equerry and Comptroller of the
Household to her }lapel Highne2s), Mr. James Couper,
and Col. Srephens.
MAIIIIIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.—The marriage of Lsdy
Agnes Grosvenor, daughter of the Marquis and
Marchioness of Westminster, and Sir Archibald Islay
Campbell, Bart., was solemnised yesterday forenoon at
St. George's Church, Hanover-square.
MINING COMPANY OP IRELAND. —Ye4t crday the direc-
tors declared a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent. per
annum. _ _

We have much pleasura in announcing that the
Turkish Government has made ample eatisfaction for
the Outrage upon Mr. Fonblanque, the. Consul-General
at Belgrade. Tbe regiment to which the soldier who
made the attack -Art, Mr. Fonbletque belonged has
been withdrawn, the sf.ldier and his officers have been
sent to Constantinople for trial, the Paha has personally
focoreased the regret of the Purte to the Consul, and
(.:,lutes have been fired in honour of the British flag.—
Times.