The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-26 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, JAN. 26, 1858.

It is important that we should bear in mind at
the present moment the inestimable value of the
rights accorded to aliens by our constitution;
Those rights are not by any means matter of mere
vague conjecture. They have long since been
ascertained. They have been clearly and expli-
citly defined by our jurisoonsults. In speaking of
those rights we are not talking of what is in any
single particular darkened by uncertainty. The
rights of aliens are as distinct and absolute as the
rights of Free Born Englishmen—though these
latter are not, of course, in any way so restricted
or conditional. It being understood always that
the rights of aliens signified no other than the
rights of alien-friends—for, as BLACKSTONE sen-
tentiously and deliberately observes, " Alien
enemies have no rights, no privileges." It has
been declared by the same high authority,—
" Great tenderness is shown by eur laws, not
only to foreigners in distress, but with regard
also to the admission of strangers who come spon-
taneously." And it has been remarked yet
further, and yet more emphatically, that "so long
as their nation continues at peace with ours, and
they themselves behave peaceably," they are under
the immediate protection of the Crown : with this
reservation, however, invariably, in enhancement
of the Royal prerogative—namely, that they
(aliens, meaning alien-friends) are liable at any
moment to be sent oat of the United Kingdom
whenever it may be deemed expedient by the
Government.

A particular reminder of this proviso in regard
to aliens, it is generally understood, is again being
earnestly pressed upon the consideration of the
English Government. The frivolity and frui '-
less/less of any such " pressure from without"
exereisri
have often before now been ♦ery signally demon-
ettr.ated.
the Nations. She
England has ever proved herself in-
natively jealous of any interference with the
of her moat
Aayiu
of . glorious prerogative as the
I ,
will vindicate this

f.")

prerogative, no doubt, t) the last—and not the
least energetically at a juncture when Lord PAL-
MERSTON is the chief among the Administrators.
In this particular, therefore, we are labouring
under no feeling of even momentary solicitude.
The Honour of England we believe to be in safe
keeping. We have no fear whatever of its being
in any manner paltered with--PALMERSTON being
our Prime Minister, and VICTORIA our Sovereign.

Nevertheless it is a moment when strenuous
efforts are apparently being adventured upon by a
powerful ally, with a view to the diminution, if
possible, of this right of asylum spontaneously
accorded to foreigners by our Constitution—it
cannot but be interesting to remember bow there
has been manifested upon former occasions the
same specious, we might almost say the same
insidious attempt at interference. For example, it
was observed, as far back as the 2d of March,
1803, in the official cclumns of the Afoniteue_
mark well the force and bearing of every syllable 1
that follows—" The Alien Bill gives powers to
the English Ministry to Bend strangers out of
that country at pleasure." And it is added—
"that power the Ministry largely avails itself
of "—reference being then made (in illustration
of the truth of this) to the then recent case of
one Citizen BONNECARRERE. The Meeiteur of
that same date, 2d March, 1803, ending its argu-
ment thus :—" The King of England owes to his
own personal dignity and to the honour of his
nation, to put an end to the outrages of his sub-
jects against a neighbouring Government and
nation with which it is at peace, and to which he
gives the service of an ambassador not less exalted
in rank than amiable and respectable in his per-
sonal qualities." France then, as now, was at
peace with this country—and what at that period,
let us ask, was the popular feeling in England in
regard to this right of asylum granted by Eng-
land to foreigners 'I For a sufficiently significant
indication of the then feeling upon this point we
may turn to the record preserved to us of the
memorable trial in the Michaelmas Term of the
43d GEORGE 111., of JEAN PELTIER, before the
Lord Chief-Justice ELLENBOROUGH. It was there
and then observed by Mr. (afterwards Sir JAMES)
MACKINTOSH, the most eloquent of the counsel of
the defendant—" That he still enjoys the security
of this asylum, that he has not been sacrificed to
the resentment of his powerful enemies, is perhaps
owing to the firmness of the KING'S Government.
If that be the fact, Gentlemen, if his MAJESTY'S
Ministers have resisted application to expel this
unfortunate gentleman from England, I should
publicly thank them for their firmness, if it were
not unseemly and improper to suppose that they
would have acted otherwise--to thank an English
Government for not violating the most sacred du-
ties of hospitality ; for not bringing indelible dis-
grace on their country." Noble words those—
but nobler still those with which the peroration of ,
this great speech was brought to a climax by
MACKINTOSH. "So long as our country exists,"
he exclaimed, "we are girt round with impene-
trable armour. Till the destruction of our country
no danger can fall upon us for the performance of
our duty, and I do trust that there is no English-
man so unworthy of life as to desire to outlive
England. But if any of us are condemned to the
cruel punishment of surviving our country—if in
the inscrutable co unselsofPßovroestee this favoured
seat of justice and liberty, this noblest rock of hits
man wisdom and virtue, be destined to destruction
(which I shall not be charged with national pre-
judice for saying would be the most dangerous
wound ever inflicted on civilisation) ; at least let
us carry with us into our sad exile the con-
solation that we ourselves have not violated
the rights of hospitality to exiles—that
we have not torn from the altar the suppliant who
claimed protection as the voluntary victim of
loyalty and conscience 1" Never ought those
thrilling and truthful accents to cease vibrating
upon the national remembrance. Ever ought
they to be cherished in our recollection, as loving
as that yet more memorable peroration uttered at
a still earlier date by-
of HAMILTON ROWAN, he ex-
claimed
eloquence, not
"-- -- —' - - '
tictastein CL We 11011 g, JOHN DURBAN, when in his
oSTHENES—" I speak in the
law, which evokes liberty
renowned
nd defence of
burst
of
improvised
moment he sets his foot upon
csunworthyut
rhaoetf e Dw iEt Bib British,
and inseparable from, British
the ground on which he treads
soil which proclaims even to the stranger and
secrated by the genius ofoeudnoivraersaanl
No matter in what language 1 the
tsi
so jho
earth,
rntehr:
ttilLet
matter his
no matter
--his liberty
iesmhaonlcyi paant cilo nc .° n
tbt
luer burnt upone
hel
helm
i mo f
doomwhat c
omaym p l
ehxai
ov
ne
ibneceonn a
ppartoi nb
loeu nwc ei
with
freedom
l
may have been cloven down—no matter with
inw Africanhat sdui tsi a mayst r
o uhs a
bv
ae
what solemnities he may have been devoted upon
the altar of slavery—the moment ho touches the
sacred soil of Britain, the altar and the god sink
together in the dust ; his soul walks abroad
in its own majesty ; his body swells beyond
the measure of his chains, which burst
around him, and he stands redeemed, re-
generated, and disenthralled by the irresistible
genius of universal emancipation." It is the
truth which constitutes the beauty and the glory
of that magnificent exhibition of patriotic emo-
tion, and which renders that ever-,nemorable
passage
of cuREAN chief among the splendours of
our national oratory. Now, we feet tha', instinc-
tively, each one amongst us, in Our heart of heaits
never, "come what come may," will e,
..24nglis i i tan n
forego that glorious and priceless privilege of
affording shelter and protection to the political
outcasts of the world—the privilege thus eulo-
gised by the rapturous rhetoric of CURRAN, and
by the less glowing, but not less florid, declama-
tion of MACKINTOSH. Tae Right of Asylum for
Aliens in England is like the extension to the
Political Fugitives of the whole world of the
ancient privileges of Sanctuary.

telegraphic despatches
Although the intelli
from India Contains no
geti3e conveyed in the re-
centfeature of verr at"king importance, still it is
satisfactory to learn that tie operations they re-
cold have been attended ?rith success. Colonel
SEATON had achieved the reut of the Furruckabad
rebels, who sustained considerable loss in men
ani guns, and finally took
their heels in approved
Asiatic fashion, being punted by the victors for
several miles. An ingredient in the caldron of
mischief was likewise removed by the disarmament
of HoLx.tit's regulars, %slid
was effected without
disturbance on the 15th
0 last month. The
defence of the Azimghur frostier, which was me-
-7
paced by rebels, has been enirusted to a brave and
experienced officer, Brigader-General FRANKS,
and our good friend in need TIINQ BAHADOOR, has
advanced a column of his intrTid Goorkahs nearly
10,000 strong from the mouitains of Nepaul, for
service, in the British territories. The Joudpoor I
legion has been routed by tie active SHOWERS,
and some minor engagement, have taken place,
tending to the diminution and dispersion of the
mutinous horded. All these ire cheering details, 111
serving to swell the tide of ,riumph which may
now 11 regarded as Lirly set in unden the aus-
pices lof the well-proved vesran to whom the
leaderillip of our Indian armi,a is entrusted, and

who is fully fit and able to discharge the arduous
duties of a post requiring in the highest degree
unsleeping vigilance, cool-headed energy, and
strategic skill.
It is indeed fortunate that in so momentous a
crisis the supreme military command has devolved
upon such a man as Sir COLIN CAMPBELL. A
faithful aq. hard-working servant of his country
for many a long year, he has carved his way to
renown by his own good sword. A man from
among the people, and of whom the people may
be justly proud, he owes nothing of his fortune to
aristocratic patronage, which has so often, and
with such disastrous effects, pitchforked incornpe•
tency into high places. It cannot be gainsayed—
aud it is with humiliation that the admission must
be made—that the stuff of which generals ought
to be made is very far from plentiful in the upper
ranks of the British army. Blunderers of the
first water are to be fuuna there in abundance,
but a really efficient leader, thoroughly up to
his work, with both the head to contrive
and the hand to execute is a perfect godsend. If
it should so please Providence that Sir COLIN
CAMPBELL were to fall a victim in this fatal war-
fare, which has already cost the lives of the illus-
trious HAVELOCK and so many of his heroic
brotherhood, who is there to take his place with
the full confidence of the country f The great
point of the war is the reconquest of Oude,
swarming as it is with armed desperadoes, and
what Horse-Guards' pet could safely be entrusted
with the conduct of a campaign fraught with such
grave importance and results ? It is the know-
ledge of the vastness of the interests at stake, and
of the capacity of the man to whom such great
responsibilities are entrusted, that cause all eyes
to be directed, both in England and in India, with
such affectionate confidence and hope towards the
Highland Hero. We cannot better illustrate the
prevalent feeling with regard to Sir ComN's worth,
and the demerits of such incapables as peculiar
interest can prefer to posts where their inadequacy
involves not merely disgrace to themselves, but
grievous loss and suffering to their country, than
by giving an extract from a letter by an Indian
officer of experience, which appeared this morn-
ing in the columns of a contemporary. " Our
great hope," says the writer, "is Sir CoLIN
CAMPBELL. Should anything happen to this fine
old soldier and real general, where are we to look
for his successor ? WINDHAM has already made
an ass of himself, but we cannot yet come at the
truth. Probably .we never shall, for he is a guards-
man, a Times hero, and a M.P. CODRINGTON is ditto
(I mean ass, M.P., and guardsman), so he may come
out, or poor old Simpson. I shall never forget the
faces of the latter two on the day of the Redan. I
laughed, when I should not laugh, at the thought
of the two old women in the fifth parallel. On,
men,' said CODDY, but he never came on himself.
WINDHAM certainly showed good pluck for a while.
He went away, however, for supports, but some-
how he or the supports never came back. How
we looked around for a commander, riddled and
falling as we were. Imagine CODRINGTON and
SIMPSON afterwards made a committee to decide
on claimants for the Victoria Cross 1 Oh,
chivalry 1 Such men ! By all means send them
to India, if the people at home like a long and
systematic war."
The flagrant system of military jobbing has
been marked of late by examples of such signal
public detriment, that we are fain to hope a new
leaf may be turned over for the future. Cer-
tainly Lord GEORGE PAGET'S appointment last
week is not emblematical of a total rejetion of
the old leaven, but it may turn out pretty well,
and under the eye of Sir CoLirr no frightful
blunders can well be permitted to take place.
Doubtless, he has still much to achieve ; but
there is no fear of the work being clumsily or
negligently done, should he be spared to execute
it. The vows of the people are as earnest for
his safety and success as their grief was deep and
genuine for the loss of HAVELOCK, " The darling
hero
•of England." The national gratitude
cord to that intrepid soldier, corresponding
with the statue of another truly great man—the
conqueror of Scinde ; and the images of HAYS-
LOCI. and NAPIER will occupy the most prominent
position in the metropolis, by the side of the
glorious NELSON, adorning a site which 'should be
further furnished with the equestrian effigies of
CCIZUR, DZ LION and of MAILLBOROUGII, an exist-
ing impropriety being removed to some more con-
venient locality, and no longer disfiguring a spot
which should be sacred to the enduring represen-
tations of five of the most nobly foremost in the
roll of British chivalry. But long may it be
before we have to mourn the extinction of one so
universally trusted and beloved, as the stalwart
chief who has ever trod upright and undaunted in
the path of duty and of glory, and whom, under
the good favour of Heaven, we trust yet to hail
on his triumphant return to his native soil, as
the Regenerator of our endangered supremacy in

t EST NEWS.

THE CALCUTTA MAIL.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company have

received the following despatch from Marseilles

this (Tuesday) morning
" The steam-ship Vectis, with the India and
China mails, has arrived at Marseilles.
" The mails leave for London at ten o'clock
this morning."

FRANCE.
PARIS, MONDAY EVENING.

The Emperor yesterday recfrived Prince Francois
de Liechtenstein, Lieutenant-General in the service
of the Emperor of Austria, and Baron de Hubner,
the Austrian ambassador, the Duke de Rivas, the
Spanish ambassador, Prince de Ligne, President of
the Belgian Senate, Baron de Seebach, the Saxon
minister, General de la Rocca, First Aide-de-camp
to the King of Sardinia, and the Marquis Pes de
Villamarina, the Sardinian Minister, and General
Baron Forstner de Dambenoy, Minister of State
and Adjutant-General of the King of Holland, all
of whom delivered letters of congratulation from
their respective sovereigns on the occasion of his
Majesty's happy escape. The Emperor also re-
ceived similar congratulatory letters from the Swiss
federal government, and from the senates of the
free cities of Bremen and Hamburg.
The trial of the assassins compromised in the late
attempts will take place about the 15th of Feb.
at the Cour d'Aqsises. An immense amount
of evidence is collecting, meat of which comes fro m
England.
The Wallachian Government promulgated, yes-
terday, the Firma❑ for dissolving the Divan of
Wallachia. Disturbances have taken place in
Bosnia. Troops have been despatched thither from
Monastri.

Lord Gray, as chairman, and Mr. A. Goldsmid,
as secretary, of the meeting of British residents in
Paris, delivered, on Saturday, to the Grand Chain-
herla,,n (Duke of Bassano) the address voted on that
occasion, and which was signed by 535 names, for
presentation to the Emperor. The Grand Cham-
berlain informed Lord Gray that he had been com-
manded to express the Emperor's gratitude for the
kind feeling which prompted the address, as also to
express his regret that, not having received any of
the numerous French deputations, he felt himself
precluded from receiving that of the British resi-
dents.

The Moniteur publishes a translation of the
address forwarded to the Emperor by the corpora-
tion of London. _ _

" Hr. Mackinnon, M. P.," says the Constitution-
me!, "has left Paris for London, after collecting a
mass of information on the organisation and working
of the Conseils des Prud'hommes in France—his
intention being to bring in a bill on the subject in
the approaching session of Parliament."
BOURSE, Jan. 25.—The following were the last
quotations :

94 25

4.1 j per Cents
Do. end month—
3 per Cent. ..... 69 20
Do. end month 69 30
Bank Shares
Credit Mobilior
Do. Account 935

Credit Foncier
Belgian 4,1
Piedmontese (5)
Roman BB'
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt
,WAYS.

RAIL'
Orleans
Northern
New Ditto BO-
O and Mediteran. 870
New Ditto .... 855

Midi
Western 6971
Strasburg
Grand Central
Sardinian
Austrian

Geneva

PRUSSIA.

The Prussian ministerial journal, the Zeit, of
Berlin, contains the following remarks on some
points of the speech of the Emperor of the French
at the opening of the session •
" We receive with the fullest satisfaction the
passage of the speech from the throne relative to
the Duchies under the sceptre of Denmark. The
Emperor openly declares that it is a question purely
German, in which neither France nor any other
European power will have to interfere, so long as
the integrity of Denmark shall not be threatened.
Naturally, Germany does not require to wait, be-
fore taking the measures necessary for the main-
tenance of her rights, to have the opinion or the
advice of the foreign powers on the subject ; but
it is satisfactory to see that the non-interested
European powers recognise the competency of the
Germanic
.Confedeiation, and take from Denmark
all hope of foreign assistance. The Emperor avails
himself of this opportunity to proclaim in general
the principle of non-intervention in all questions
which do not directly concern France. He calls to
mind that in the negotiations relative to the affair
i,f Neufchatel the intervention of the French Ca-
binet was only justified by its having been afforded
at the request of Prussia. What the Emperor
says on the affairs of the Principalities is also very
satisfactory. His Atijea,y does not appear to
attach much importance to the differences of
opinion which have arisen on that question. He
exphins the policy of France without binding it to
walr&-crtgquarauw- aaki,th4 nd
qt.
France would obstinately resist any project of
conciliation. Napoleon 111., iu fact, binds himself
by unequivocal expressions to exercisehis influence
in the future conferences in a conciliatory spirit.
We are convinced that this promise will alone suffice
to produce a conciliatory impression ; and we con-
sequently entertain more strongly than ever the
hope that European diplomacy will succeed in
solving in a-satisfactory manner all the difficulties
connected with the Danube, and will at last ter-
minate the work of peace begun at Paris.