The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-19 00:00:00

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41,
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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1858.

Mr. Vansorr SMITH positively refuses to giw
the House of Commons any information on the
quasi "private letter, or letters, he has received
from Lord CANNING, or those persons in autho-
rity in India, under the supposition that he was
still at the head of the Board of Control. We
say letters, inasmuch as it appears that he must
have received several communications by, some
at least, of the last three malls that arrived. He
despises the House, and will do nothing to efface
the stigma that must, under existing circum-
stances, attach to his character. He sets up big
own judgment, but will not, by affording reasoe_
able information as to the facts, allow others to form
an opinion as to the propriety of that judgment.
All that he condescended to say, in answer to th,
very pertinent interrogatory exhibited by Lord
A. VANE, was, that he " had already stated the
substance of the letter, and also that, had he, to
the b4t of his judgment and discretion, consi
dared- it important enough to be communicated
to thei Government he would have done so." To,
letter must have been brief indeed, if its substance
consisted merely of the short sentence which
leaked out.

But, what can w© think of his judgment
or discretion in deeming that unimportant.
The Governor-General forwarded the draft of a
Proclamation, which he intended issuing on tht
capture of Lucknow, but from press of matter
11.43 veus compelled to defer until the follow-
ing mail, the explanations which he was desirous
of rendering in respect of that very iil-timed and
injudicious document. Surely, it
required a de-
gree of, mental obliqUity, far beyond what
might
have been anticipated even froth Mr. SMITH,
rrir,t,
say that such an intimation could be consignee
to the waste-paper basket, and
44
a forty-Si:aid,
power" c'f arrogance, to suppose that either Par-
liameut or the Country could be satisfied with
such a lame and petulant statement—for "ex_
planation " it could not be called. The N01.i4.
Lnrd the Member for Durham was fully justified
in repeating his very proper interrogatory, which
was thus evaded by Mr. SMITH, formerly of
Calllloll4low.

But there are circumstances that render
the topic of vast importance. The Govern

ment have not received any copy of the pro-
clamation, bnt they have positive information that
it, or one of similar tendency, has been itsued.
On Saturday, however, they received three pri-
ate letters from Lord CArrimfa, in which there
are references to the proclamation, and "which
seemed to referto what had been stated in other letters,
observations respecting matters of which the
Government had no account, and which were,
therefore, necessarily involved in obscurity."
Nay, more, we hear it on high and unques-
tionable authority, that Sir COLIN CAMPBELL
had expressed a strong opinion respecting
the proclamation that had arrived at Luck-
now, before the departure of a very gallant and dis-
tinguished officer who has just come to this
country. This should be cleared up,
and the evidence of COl. FRANKS and Mr. SMITH
obtained, before a division can fairly be taken on
the resolutions now before the House of Commons
and the country. If the ex-President of the
India Board will not answer individual members,
he should be required to do so by a resolution of
the House. At present he occupies a very unen-
viable position, from which his friends should
seek to extricate him as speedily as possible.
Nor does he stand alone, for by some strange
coincidence, the Times, Post, and other Palmer-
stonian journals, seem all to have had their ordi-
nary correspondence, !which ought to state the
effects produced on the people of India generally,
and of Oude in particular, by the promulgation
of the confiscation policy, very conveniently mis-
laid. Verily "Vernon Smithism," as it has
been happily termed, seems to be of a very infec-
tious character. We can now understand the
motives that induced the Sabbath-day conspira-
tors to press forward their motion. A little time
would fully reveal the wisdom of the course adopted
byLord ELLENsorinueis. But that time is refused,
in order that a decision may be obtained on inade-
quate data, if not under false and fraudulent pre-
tences, &decision which may render an appeal to the
country indispensable at a very inconvenient sea-
son. We know the opinions of Sir JOHN LAW-
RENeI, and Sir JAMES OuTRAM, we may easily
guess those of Sir CoLIN CAMPBELL on the sub-
ject, and doubtless others of considerable conse-
quence will be obtained before the result of the
final struggle on the factious motion.

There can scarcely be a more important ques-
tion than that which was last night brought under
the consideration of the House of Commons by
Sir Ca&RLRS NArlna, the question of the best
and most speedy means of manning the Royal
Navy. The " wooden walls" of which England
has so justly been proud, and which are far more
efficacious than the most elaborate fortresses that
have ever been planned by human ingenuity. It
is quite certain that the country will never again
tolerate the press-gang system, or forcible con-
scription of the maritime population. Services
urgently required must be fairly remunerated.

Adequate inducements should be held oui

to attract men to the National flag. Let
better rewards be given for good conduct,
improve the position of the petty officers, and
give a reasonable chance of promotion to the
quarter-deck for those who show themselves qua-
lified for the position, and who have availed
themselves of educational opportunities that ought
to be placed at their disposal. By this means
you would obtain energetic lads, who could
not hope to obtain admission to the quarter-
deck by the ordinary channels. The habi-
tual promotion of meritorious non-commis-
sinned officers in the army has been productive

of the most beneficial results, and there is no
reason to suppose that a similiar promotion of
petty officers and even of able seamen and de-
serving youths, who bad entered before the mast,
should not be equally efficacious.
Greater advantages should also be tendered to
the continuous service men, who without being
qualified to aspire to high promotion, are yet ad-
mirably calculated for the duties they are
called on to discharge. The virtual dis-
missal of 3,000 of those gallant fellows
was an act of political insanity, to say nothing of
the imputation of breach of faith thereby ca,t
upon the country. It was certainly one of the
most unfortunate steps ever taken in the naval
administration of the country. A little more
liberty might also be granted under prudent
regulations. It is absurd to suppose that men,
who have been kept on board for years, without
a chance, being afforded of setting their feet on
terra firma, although they have been at anchor
in harbour, and are tantalised with the view
of land, should not relax when the long-coveted
and anxiously looked for opportunity has been
conceded. !

We rejoice to perceive that Sir JOHN PAKING-
TON has gracefully conceded the important pan
of the motion, and that a commission will be
forthwith appointed with ample powers to insti-
tute a complete inquiry into this interesting
subject.

Nor will the dookyards be neglected. Two
committees will be organised—one for the
purpose of investigating the present sys-
tem of the dockyards, the other for in-
quiring into our steam machinery, and the
best mode of applying steam to the Royal Navy.
This is all that could be desired, and Sir JOHN
FAX is entitled to the thanks and grati-
tude of the nation for the great attention and
efficiency he has displayed in his present office,
and the important reforms that may be antici-
pated under his guidance and direction.

The extinction of ono of the greates t Parlia
aleatory orators of our day has very recently
been simply but most explicitly announced by
himself
simsel the
f perhapsiu al.°
w spoken
poken words indicated by him
lost public address to which his
lips might aver give utterance. Those who have
glanced through the brief record of the ceremo-
nial proceedings attendint upon the inauguration
of the High Steward of Cambridge will recognise
the Orator here alluded to, in the person of Trio-
'LAS Baron MACAULAY, recently selected to, and
on the 11th instant formally installed in, the post
of the High Stewardship. An additional interest
and one of an almost painful character was
thereby afforded to those proceedings by the
noble lord's announcement, the remarkable
specified. Though we Ile.
announcement already
cessarily regret the decision, wo are neverthe-
less constrained to regard it as in one sense
eminently judicious—this distinct resolve on
the part of our great annalist to restrict his intel-
lectual efforts henceforth to the continuation cf
the grand national work upon which be has ad-
ventured. "There was a time," said the noble
orator, with a touch at once of dignity and pathos
in the words, " when I could have commando('
a hearing in a much larger and even a more les
portant assembly than this." How true the re-
mark is every one will appreciate who ha-i
o personal remembrance, even as recently
as five
i n
yeeadrsein aagfoe,
wmofi the time when the
wereibt ye
r obs ye dnchs of the bs House
t as
if
fofby
magic, by
a.simultaneous rush from smoking rooms, and
ngn
and the dii
libraries,
apartments of BZLLIILY' S

on the electrio whisper carried from lip to lip, of
-C6 MACAULAY is up ! " " That time, however,"
said Lord MACAULAY on Tuesday, at Cambridge,
" has now passed away, and I feel that if I would
still do something for society, it will be best done
in the quiet retirement of my own library." If
the noble heart of the historian is yet to beat
equably with health to the completion of his great
work and to the natural close of his honoured and
useful existence, it will be best that this judicious
resolution of his should be persisted in unhesi-
tatingly, undeviatingly. Physically it is rendered
advisable, if not even absolutely imperative. In-
tellectually, never perhaps was orator more per-
fectly endowed. But physically it is otherwise,
insomuch that the decision of our Angles-Saxon
CICERO is wise--for by rigid obedience to that
decision he may most securely prolong a life of
inestimable value to his countrymen, the life of
one whose master-hand can write in suoh grand
and enduring characters the annals of this mighty
empire.

THE SUNDAY CABAL.

THE DISSOLUTION.

The debate on Mr. Cardwell'a motion will be
resumed to-morrow by Mr. Collier, but it is gene-
rally believed that the division will not take
place before Saturday morning.
In Palmerstonian and Ilayierite circles the
confidence with which, a few days ago, the result
was anticipated has given way to painful mis-
givings. Even the most sanguine only count
upon a very small -majority in favour of Mr.
Cardwell's motion, and many impartial and well-
informed persons are of opinion that the triumph
of Ministers is certain.

In neither case should we envy the position of
the Palmerstonian faction, for, if Mr. Cardwell's
motion be negatived, they will be covered with
confusion, as the authors of an abortive intrigue,
while, if it be carried, the consequences will be
even more disastrous, as a dissolution of Parlia-
ment would necessarily follow, and the Cambridge
House place-hunters, acquitted by the House,
would receive a severer chastisement from the
country.

As a proof that the Palmerstonians are them-
selves conscious of the reception which awaits
them, at the hands of their constituents, we
have remarked, in the course of the debate on
Mr. Cardwell's motion, that every allusion to a
dissolution was received with loud demonstrations
of applause from the Liberal and Ministerial
benches, whilst the Palmerstonians observed a
sullen silence.

The admirable speeches of Mr. Roebuck and of
Sir Robert Peel have produced a great effect
upon the country, and it is now manifest that
the Palmerstonian intrigue is entirely repudiated
by all the leaders of the Liberal party.
We have reason to believe that, in the event of
a factious majority declaring itself in favour of
Mr. Cardwell's motion, the dissolution will not,
as some suppose, be postponed till the end of the
session, but will take place immediately—that is,
as soon as a vote of money can be taken on ac-
count, for meeting the expenses of the Civil
Service. Our readers are aware that provision
has already been made for the immediate require-
ments of the naval and military departments of
the public service.

The new Parliament will probably as.semblo
about the 15th or 20th of July. Mr. Secretary
Walpole, it is said, will be proposed for the chair.
Mr. Denison has disappointed expectation as a
Speaker, and he will, certainly, not be re-elected.
We have taken great pains to ascertain, approxi-
mately, the result of the appeal to the country,
and aftor a careful consideration, we have arrived
at the following conclusion :
Supporters of the Administration 310
Palmerstonians
Liberals

Total..

. 654

If this be an accurate, as it is certainly an im-
partial, estimate of the strength of parties in the
new Parliament, the country will give no hesitating
answer to the question which it will have to decide,
and which was stated by Mr. Roebuck the other
night, "Shall we hasten to restore to power the
Government which we have just cashiered,
because they tampered with the honour of
England I"

We have every confidence in the verdict of our
fellow•countrymen ; and, although we are to be
deprived of the services of sham-liberal states-
men, we are in no way appalled at the prospect,
but shall rejoice heartily at one result of the dis:
solution, which will give Messrs. Gibson, Bright,
and Roebuck, a following of upwards of 100 mem-
bers, who will not allow themselves to be degraded
by submission to the bidding of Hay ter.

FASHIONABLE MOVEMENTS.

" In the name of the Prophet—nos !"

Well to know, it is behoving,
Where each Mr. Smith is moving.
Used up, like exploded cracker,
Mont Blanc having naught to back her,
" Done" each hackneyed route and line-ah !
Albert Smith is off to China.
But another Smith we know—
Some have wished at Jericho—
Now, where bores and knaves should be,
Sent nem. con,. to Coventry.