The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-03 00:00:00

Lord PALMERSTON who deieloped, after it had been
" inaugurated by Mr. CANNING, that great foreign
policy which is based not on its alliance with
popular liberty, but upon popular liberty itself."
Certainly the hon. member must be a good judge,
since he has for some time served
in this Government, and he declared that
it was difficult for them to appreciate,
if they had not been brought into much personal
intercourse with him, how kind and conciliatory
was the manner of the late Premier to all who were
acquainted with him, and how encouraging it was
to those who "strove to rise under his patronage."
Members of the Government are really to be
pitied when they are put up to speak before
a public meeting, and are expected to say a great
deal about the forthcoming Session, and yet in
reality are precluded from doing so. We are not
surprised, then, that Mr. LAYARD should have taken
refuge in generalities, and said that Earl RUSSELL
was a real Reformer, and so on. There are good
grounds for the Under Secretary for Foreign
Affairs congratulating his hearers upon the changes
1 and improvements that have lately taken place in
the conduct of affairs in the administration of his
own department. Young men do not nowadays
take up diplomacy as an amusement, but have
to be educated for the service. Much service has
often been rendered by the reports of the Secretaries
of Legation and the Attaches.
Mr. LOCKE KING'S speech was in a great measure
spoiled by its intolerance, for he seemed to think it
expedient to shower abuse upon his opponents right
and left. Talking of any party in the State as
connected with a public question, and saying that
" their fingers were too dirty and unhallowed
to touch it," is quite inconsistent. Mr. LOCKE KING
spoke the truth rather too plainly to be agreeable,
when he said that he did not see, " looking at it
practically, that it was possible to disfranchise
boroughs, because a great many of them belonged
to the Liberals ; they would go dead against any
measure of reform which touched them, but where
reform was most needed, and that was his hobby,
was in the counties." This is the hobby of a great
man, it is to be feared, who in professing to be
guided by principle, throws it to the winds, when it
interferes with their views or themselves or their
privileges. No measures of Reform will be
really worth having until politicians will
consent to sink their prejudices and take a more
extended view of things. One thing is worthy of
notice, and that is the hon. member thinks that we
are now further off from Reform than we were ten
years ago. It must be said on behalf of Ministers,
if they fail, that more than half the fault will be
with their supporters. They are so divided and
sub-divided into sections, and so distracted by con-
flicting interests, and so afraid of any one but
themselves getting the credit of achieving a great
result that it seems that as if little short of a
miracle can insure their success.

American affairs, both foreign and domestic,
continue to present elements of discord, though
happily without any immediate signs of disturbance.
Mexico still remains a fertile source of excitement
and speculation, the great news of the day in New
York, when the mail left, being the capture of
Bagdad. The accounts are very conflicting, one
despatch asserting that Bagdad was nearly deserted
when taken, and that the progress of its captors was
almost uninterrupted. The other side of the story
is, that a party of 123 soldiers, mostly Federal
coloured troops, crossed the Rio Grande, at Clarks-
ville, and, dividing into three parties, succeeded in
capturing the commander of Bagdad, as well as the
Imperial Gnaril. The flu-tilt-, publi,ation of the
diplomatic correspondence between the French and
Mexican Governments relative to Mexican affairs
contains a letter from M. DEOUTN DE LIM'S,
written in August last to Mr. BIGELOW, pledging
the word. of France to remain neutral in the internal
affairs of Mexico, provided that the United States
Government will pledge itself to remain neutral in
all affairs regarding Mexico. Advices from Vera
Cruz state that 300 men have been sent to Bagdad
in a French man-of-war, and that the Imperialists
are likely soon to re-occupy the place. It is difficult
to arrive at the truth among all these conflicting
statements; but it is clear that the Mexican question is
still unsettled, and that it contains elements of dis-
turbance which avert' little chance spark may kindle
into serious mischief.

The Fenians have not yet reconciled their dif-
ferences, and until we see a little more unity in
their own camp we need not be very apprehen-
sive as to their magnificent schemes for our de-
struction. The President ROBERTS, accompanied
by General SWEENEY, has left New York on a tour
through the States, to canvass for vigorous military
action. At a meeting of the adherents of the Senate
the invasion of Canada, the seizure of Canadian
ports, and the despatch of privateers from such
ports when seized, were part of the programme.
As this very meeting, however, was violently inter-
rupted by the rival faction, the dignity of the
Fenian Senate was rather impaired than improved
by it.
In internal affairs the Reconstruction Com-
mittee have reported a Bill to Congress
amending the Constitution, and basing Congres-
sional representation on the whole number
of the population with the exception of such persons
as are by State laws denied the suffrage on account
of colour. This bill is meeting with strong opposi-
tion, so that its ultimate success is uncertain.
A Democratic delegation front Pennsylvania
waited on President JOHNSON, and were so well
satisfied with his explanation of his policy that they
pledged him their hearty support. Mr. JonNsoN
said that he would not swerve from his duty for
party, men, or objects. It is this firmness of purpose
which has hitherto carried him through such a
stormy and dangerous crisis, and which has by slow
but sure degrees won him the confidence of the
people. Certainly at no juncture of a nation's
history could Each qualities be more necessary, and
it is only by a resolute pursuit of those objects
which are really for the good of the people, regard-
less of clamour or faction, that an American states-
man can hope to restore order and prosperity.

The revival of the old forms and ceremonies at-
tending the opening of Parliament gives en-
couraging evidence of the intention of her gracious
MAJESTY to reassume once more those queenly
offices which she used to fulfil with so much grace
and dignity. At no moment could such a reappear-
ance be more appropriate or well-timed than at the
meeting of another Parliatucnt,thegatheringlogether
for the first time of the new representatives of her peo-
ple. It is an auspicious beginning to a Parliament,
which has, we may believe, an arduous and eventful
career before it, which will certainly have to deal
with questions of vital importance both to the pre-
sent and to the future of the country. The most
prominent of these questions will be no doubt the
amendment of the Constitution contemplated by a
Reform Bill ; and as if to signify that while ad-
mittinc, the necessities of enlarging and improving
the system of representation the House of Com-
mons is resoved to shape the new things according
to the old and tried pattern the minor forms and
ceremonies have been scrupulously observed. We
gngland are tenacious of t:Aitionai

toms in every department, whether in reli-
gion, as when the gold, frankincense, and
myrrh was offered the other day on the feast
of the Epiphany in the Chapel Royal ; in civil
matters, as when the ceremony of the Pyx was:gone
through a week or two since at the Mint ; in law,
with its countless and confusing formularies ; and,
in politics, with the stately and courteous ceremonial
familiar to all members of Parliament. The fact
is, that we have long since arrived at the conclusion
there is a substance under all these shadows, and
sensible that there are dangers as well as advantages
attending a rapid progress, we are careful to guard
against them by a series of petty drags on the wheel.
In the same way that the little refinements and courte-
sies of society are valueless in the abstract, but
invaluable in preserving the tone of social life, so
these forms of state, which some may smile at,
serve a useful purpose. The man who began with
ordering the Speaker's mace away as a useless
bauble ended by dispensing with the Parliament
itself, and in our own day we have evidence enough
of the evils attending the license of unchecked de-
bate in the American Congress. The number of
new members in the present House will have no
effect in modifying the observance of the old
regime, if we are to judge by the amusement
excited• yesterday afternoon in the Commons by
the determination of the old M.Ps. to exact from
the new and inexperienced representatives the
formal courtesy of removing the hat on entering the
House. Yet even this trivial sign is indicative of
the mutual courtesy with which friends and oppo-
nents are alike bound to act in the English Parlia-
ment, even as the locking and barring of the door
against the Peers shows the maintenance of the old
English determination to guard the liberties of the
people against any and every assailant of their
rights and privileges.

It is satisfactory to notice that some sort of oppo-
sition is likely to be made against the encroach-
ments of the Government in Prussia. A protest
will be made in the Chamber of Deputies against
the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of
the proceedings against lIERnEx TWESTER and
TREUGEL. The terms are as follows :—" That, in
demanding the prosecution of the deputies the Pub-
lic Prosecutor exceeded his authority, and in acced-
ing to his request the Supreme Court assailed the
rights of the Chamber ; that the Chamber of De-
puties protests against this encroachment, and
also the illegality of prosecuting members on
account of speeches delivered in the Chamber."
This is very well, worded ; and it is to be trusted
that the matter will be taken up in right earnest,
because, as we mentioned the other day, things
have now come to a crisis in the affairs of Prussia,
and it is high time that something decisive should
be done. If the rights of the members are to be
violated, it would be just as well to dispense with
the sittings of the Chambers altogether, for it is a
perfect mockery for men to be elected to represent
interests which they may not defend when they are
assailed with desperate energy and most sustained
exertions.
The authorities at Berlin have now worked them-
selves up to such a pitch that they are sensitive to
the last degree if anything occurs which can at
all interfere with their real and fancied privileges.
The recent act of the Emperor of AUSTRIA in
decorating the Prince Imperial of FRANCE with the
cross of St. Stephen gave great umbrage in Berlin,
the more so because the French Government was
then rather inimical to the design of Prussia.
Something must be done, and accordingly the
Order of the Black Eagle was bestowed upon King
Vic Ton EMM ANUEL, the enemy of the Imperial
House of Austria. Of course, this gift, which is
never bestowed by a Prussian Monarch except ix
particular instances, gave great offence to the
Conservative party in Berlin, they were shocked
and dismayed at the privilege accorded to a usurper.
ro finish the ridiculous story, the Black Eagle was
bestowed upon Cardinal ANTONELLI, a very ques-
tionable compliment to his Eminence, since it was
only done to serve a particular purpose. Another
mark of dissatisfaction has been given by the Com-
mittee on Lauenberg. They have declared the
acquisition, by the KING, of the Duchy of Lauen-
berg, to be " legally null and void," which is a very
proper retort upon the impertinent message given
thereupon by Herr BIS3IARK, to the effect that no
further particulars on the subject would be supplied
to the Committee.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
Finis, Friday Evening.

The Paris papers to-day are remarkably defi-
cient of news, and some of them are compelled to
fill up their columns with the despatches upon the
subject of Mexico. The following brief description
of these documents saves a great deal of trouble to
the reader :—" The despatches of the Minister of
Foreign Affairs contain a clear and a precise ac-
count of the whole of this political question. They
describe simply and clearly the causes and the ob-
ject of the expedition, and what principally occupies
attention at this moment is the thought and the reso-
lutions of the Government of the Emperor in conse-
quence of the results which have been obtained."
It is stated in a letter from Lisbon that General
Prim is imprisoned at Beja, a small town
in the province of Alentejo near Estramadura.
He was received by the population with
great indifference. The belief is that the Spa
nish Government is desirous to get rid of the whole
affair, and that it will allow the General to go to
England, in accordance, it is said, with an applica-
tion made by him upon the subject.
Among many dry facts in the blue-book one cir-
cumstance is mentioned. which must excite regret.
Founding the opinion upon statistics, it remarks
that the dramatic art is on the decay in France.
Upon this assertion the Journaldes Debats remarks :
—" We shall upon another occasion inquire into
the real causes of this decline of the theatrical art,
and consider whether that decline is so real and so
deep as is asserted."
The appeal made by Poncet, the man convicted
of the murder of M. Lavargne, near Argenteuil, has
been rejected by the Court of Cassation, and he will
be executed without delay.

There has been another grand ball at the Tuileries,
which passed off very pleasantly. More than 3,000
persons were present, including diplomatists, officers
of the army and navy, and the elite of Paris. The
Emperor and Empress entered the ball-room at an
early hour. Her Majesty, as usual, was dressed
with simple elegance, in a white dress trimmed with
ivy leaves, and wore the Grand Cordon of Civil
Merit of Mexico, recently presented to her by the
Emperor Maximilian. The Princess of Hohen-
zollern wore a dress of white satin, with few orna-
ments. Dancing continued till past 4 a.m.
I have already mentioned that the Emperor in-
tends to be an exhibitor at the Great Exhibition.
In section 93, devoted to objects calculated to im-
prove the moral and physical condition of the
working classes, models will be placed of dwel-
lings for those classes, desirable on the
ground of economy, and as comprising the
most healthy characteristics. The Committee of
Admission, recollecting that the Emperor had, in
1848, been the promoter and advocate of improved
dwellings for labouring men and others, wrote to his
Majesty and gave various explanations in regard to
the Exhibition. Without delay the Emperor wrote,
in answer, that he should not only be an exhibitor,
but that he should be glad to contribute from his
private funds towards the object contemplated by
some working builders of building habitations upon