The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-19 00:00:00

THE MOCK PEACE.

The French Emperor has just returned to Paris,
and lie *ill nbw be able to review at leisure the
'work he liTai ae-COinTiilislied Since he left -his capital
two months ago. The survey of his present posi-
tion in contrast to what it might have been will
scarcely. afford him unmingled satisfaction, or
gratify to the full his cherished self-complacency.
Though victorious in the field he returns to Paris a-
defeated man. His evaeuatiOn of Italy has all the
haste and scant courtesy of a flight, and he returns
to France in secrecy and silence, instead of amidst
the sound of rolling drumns and the joyful acclama-
tions of an enthusiastic people. The extent of his
defeat he will understand for the first time when
he hears the opinion formed of the peace by the
nations whose good-will he is most anxious to gain
—France and England. He will now discoverhow
completely this unworthy peace has sacrificed cot
only the interests of Italy but his own, and perhaps
regret that he had not been more faithful to the
noble cause he espoused, and brought to a better
end the campaign that was so brilliantly begun.
We will not do him the injustice of supposing that
he will have even a momentary pang for the Italian
patriots he has deceived, but he may still have a
feeling of selfish disappointment at having thrown
so completely away such a splendid opportunity of
establishing his power on a secure moral basis.
This is the very object for which he undertook the
war. We justified this explanation of his motives
because it was in harmony with his interests.
Whether he really cared for Italy or not it was
obviously the highest interest to assist in securing
the cause of Italian independence. This would give
him what he most of all wants to gain, a hold on
national sympathies and a victory over public
opinion. But he has at the eleventh hour com-
pletely missed what he had made so many sacrifices
to secure. In relation to his own position and inte-
rests, therefore, the peace is a short-sighted and
foolish one. It would have been far better for him
to have lost half his army in the quadrangle' and
have braved the excommunication of the Pope
than to return to Paris as he does now with Italy
his deadly foe, and Austria his seeming friend.
Nay, a defeat in the field would have I een far bet-
ter than the utter moral annihilation involved in
such a treacherous and empty peace.
Probably no one is more conscious of this than
Louis Napoleon himself; for, though utterly ur- '
principled, he is at the same time sagacious and re-
flective, if not profound. He knows that he can
have no cordial or secure alliance with the heredi-
tary despotisms of Europe. These absolute rulers,
in their pride of birth, naturally look down with
ill-suppressed contempt on an upstart Emperor who
usurps their state and name. They despise his
origin, suspect his motives and designs, watch for
an opportunity of humbling him, and would exult
in his fall. They Torm alliances among themselves,
and mutually trust in their hereditary class and
military strength. As a rule they despise public
opinion, and are, indifferent to moral support. But
an elective Emperor is in a very different position.
However acquired, if his power is to last, it must be
based on national support. Though gained at first*
by acts of violence, mere material power cannot
secure its permanence. It must rest on a broad mo-
r,-.1 foundation, and appeal successfully to enlight-
ened public opinion for support. This, true at
all times, is pre-eminently true now, when even
hereditary despots begin to pereceive that they can-
not safely despise the opinion or be indfferent to
the welfare of their subjects. The inert dynastic
principle is everywhere slowly yielding to the vital
force of awakened nationality. Awl the thrones of
the future must be founded on popular sympathy
and national support. Louis Napoleon knows this
perfectly, and he has shown in various ways a strong,
though no doubt a purely selfish desire to identify
himself with national movements both at home and
abroad. In France he has made uncaasing efforts to
obtain moral support for his government. He justly
'values the good opinion of England as one of his most
needful props. And he took up the cause of Italy
that lie might strengthen his power at home and
abroad by securing not simply a dynastic or diplo-
matic alliance, but a thoroughly national one. The
movement was politic and far-sighted. It justi-
fied the boast of his Milan proclamation. Theore-
tical y he understands his age, whether he acts on
the understanding or not. His attempt to reduce
his knowledge to practice has indeed broken down,
and he must be himself keenly conscious of the
failure. After gaining much, and when within
sight, as it were, of complete success, he suddenly
gave way before the real or imaginary difficulty of
his position, and thus lost aIL
The results of this cowardice or treachery will be
far worse far Louis Napoleon himself than for
Italy. With a little more fidelity than courage he
might have returned from this campaign the
strongest ruler in Europe. Had he fulfilled his
own programme of driving Austria out of Italy, he
would have the enthusiastic support of that gallant
ar.d generous people. He would have identified
himself with the cause of national independence,
_and this ly_oula, have re-acted immensely in his
favour both in France and England. In addition to
the moral support of enUghtened public opinion, he
would have secured the material aid of a large and
united kingdom, on which he could securely rely
in case Of any threatening demonstration on the
part of Germany or Austria. How his position,
both at home and abroad, is worse than it was be-
fore. He has made a number of new and bitter
enemies, without gaining any fresh friends. The
Governments of Europe regard him with increased
suspicion and dislike, and are secretly prepared to
conspire diplomatically against him. He has
offended the Pope and excited the bitter hostility
of the priesthood, without advancing a single step
towards the promised reform of the Papal Govern-
ment. Had he boldly undertaken this reform, he
might have safely braved the opposition of the
priests supported by the unanimous voice of the
people. But he has left it all untouched. This
will prove a most fatal mistake. The Emperor of
the French cannot, if he would, wash his hands
of Italy so long as he supports the scandalous
Government of the Pope at Rome. That is the
very heart and centre of the Italian grievance,
as the patriots of Italy justly feel and assert.
Louis Napoleon promised to deal with this
great difficulty. This raised the hopes of
the Italian party, the great constitutional party
who have so patiently and constantly laboured to
work out the freedom of their country. He has
broken his word and disappointed their ardent
hopes. By thus discouraging the constitutional
party, he has done what is the most dangerous
thing of all for hjm to do—revived the revolutionary
faction. We trust it will not make head. But if
it does the Emperor of the French is directly re-
sponsible; and he will assuredly reap the results.
For his own sake, therefore, apart altogether from
the interests of Italy, this wretched peace is a foolish
and most impolitic step.—Daily News.

METROPOLITAN SALOON OMNIBUS

COMPANY.

A special meeting of the shareholders in the above
company was yesterday held at Radley's Hotel,
" to consider the present position of the company
and its affairs, and to adopt such resolutions thereon
as may be considered desirable"—F. Parker, Esq.,
in the' chair.
The CHAIRMAN stated that he regretted exceed-
ingly to have to announce' they were vanquished
unless steps were taken to rescue them. It was not
necessary for him to say much, as the letter to the
shareholders had explained everything as to their
present position. They were, however, not entirely
annihilated. There were 6,000 shares undisposed
of, besides the result of the arbitration. £1,200
would pay every tradesman's bill and pressing lia-
bilities, and part of the debenture bonds, which
would then only amount to £590. The directors
and solicitors had advanced £2,200, but for this
they were willing to await the result of the arbi-
tration. Three thousand five hundred shares had
been offered to be surrendered if five thousand were
given up, which would, of course, be at the disposal
of the company. Out of these 3,500 shares the
directors had offered to surrender 635. Two at-
tempts had been made to carry on the company by
the assistance of shareholders and others, both of
which had not failed for want of promises, but from
the non-fulfilment of those promises ; had they
been kept they would not have been in their pre-
sent position.
Mr. JONES, of Hammersmith, then moved the
following resolution :—" That this meeting ap-
proves of the course the directors have taken, and
desires that in the winding-up the affairs of the
company no concession should be made either to
the General Omnibus Company or to Mr. Hawkins,
but that the arbitration with the former should be
fully worked out, and the action of the latter tried."
The resolution was carried.
In the proceedings which followed some hope,
was held out of the formation of another company
to purchase the stook, and to continue the working
of the Saloon omnibuses.
The meeting then separated,
'Sc

CARPET MANVEACTORY BURNT DOWN AT MR-
ifAx.—On Friday night, between 11 and 12 o'clock, flames
were seen issuing from the boiler-house of Messrs. Hende-
rson and Co.'a carpet Manufactory, behind St. Nicholas
Church, Durham. The local engines were soon in attend-
ance, but at one time the flames became so alarming that a
telegraph message was despatched to Newcastle for the
assistance of the firemen there. By the time of the arrival
of' the Newcastle brigade, however, the fire had been got
under, The damage is estimated at from £2,000 to £3,000.
It is not known how the fire originated.
ANOTHER FATAL ACCIDENT
AT THE HAMP-
STEAD PON4S.— On Snnday evening last a boy, aged 14,
named James Tooney, of Whitehall-wharf, Cannon-row
Westminster, was drowned while bathing in the third pond,
Hampstead heath, making the fifth individual drowned in
these ponds this season!

11%1PEJi1AL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY).

The LORD CII.N.N6HiLOR took his -seat --04 the woolsack
-
at five o'clock.

Viscount DUNGANNON 'ova notice that, on Thurs-
day, he should present a petition from the Archdeaconry
of Buckinghamshire, praying that no alteration might be
made in the marriage law.
Earl FORTESCUE presented a petition from Exeter in
favour of the Endowed Schools,Bill.

Lord REDESDALE presented petitions from Kidder-
minster and Glasgow, in favour of the Sale of Gas Bill.

THE ITALIAN QUESTION.

The Earl of IVIALMESBURY begged to ask the noble
earl opposite (the President of the Council) whether the de-
spatch which appeared in the papers that day addressed
by Lord John Russell, on the 22d of June, to the Govern-
ment at Berlin, advising Prussia not to enter into the war,
was authentic, and'if so, whether there would be any objec-
tion to lay a copy of the said despatch, with the answer
thereto, on the table of the house ?

Lord'WODEHOUSE said—the despatch was in sub-
stance correct, there were some inaccuracies that must

have occurred in its translation—(hear, hear)—but a
copy of the document would be laid upon the table.
The noble earl had said in anotherplace that the present Go-
vernment were following out the course he had chalked out,
but he (Lord Wodehouse) contended that if there was one
line of policy the noble earl had specially chalked out, it
was that of preventing- Prussia from interfering in the war.
Lord BROUGHAM hoped' that as England had had
nothing to do with war, or in making the marvellous peace,
this country would take the full benefit of her insulation.
After a few wards from the Duke of NEWCASTLE and
Earl GRANVILLE the subject dropped.

THE STATUTE LAW COMMISSION.
Lord CRANWORTH rose to call the attention of the
house to the fourth report of the commissioners for consoli-
dating the statute law, and laid on the table a bill for the
further consolidation of the statutes, which he moved should
be read a first time. In the year 1816 a committee of that
house had undertaken the task of consolidation, but it was
impossible for any man not a lawyer to make out what was
meant, hence further consolidation of the statute law be-
came necessary. The present measure did not meddle with
Militia or Mutiny Bills as they were but little referred to
by the public; the subject of marriage would also be left
untouched. The bill proposed would number 94 of the
usual pages of their lordships' Parliamentary papers, and
the whole work of consolidation he considered would be
acomplished in two years. (Hear, hear.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR born testimony to the zeal
and ability of his noble and learned, friend (Lord Cran-
worth.). The work of consolidation was a much desired
object, out he did not think it was to be accomplished by
a eommission such as the last, where the attendance was
voluntary and there was no responsibility ; implicit confi-
dence must be placed in any persons selected for the pur-
pose of consolidation. What he should propose was the
appointment by Government of a staff of paid professional
men, who, in addition, might assist Parliament in preparing
bills before they were intreduced into either house; this
system, he was of opinion, would much relieve both
houses in the transaction of the public business of
the country. Much had been done by his noble
and learned friend near him (Lord Brougham) in
the way- of improving the bankruptcy laws ; much
remained to be done with respect to the law of real
property. (Hear, hear.) His noble and learned friend,
not then in his place (Lord Lyndhurst), had brought, in a
bill of much importance touching the mode of talrinj
evidence, which he sincerely trusted his noble and learned
friend would carry on. (Hear, hear.) There were other
measures most necessary at the present time to be ac-
complished ; for example, the simplification of the orders
of, the Lord Chancellors, of which there was a great mess
not even arranged, and one Lord Chancellor scarcely
knew the orders made ,by his predecessor. (Hear, hear.)
There was only one other point to which he wished to draw
attention, namely, that they must have one set of courts
to decide equitable matters, and another set to determine
legal matters. He thought also that the courts of common
law might, as they had hitherto often done, decide equitable
questions.
Lord BROUGHAM, although much indebted to his
noble and learned friend Lord Cranworth for the efforts he
had made to consolidate the laws, must yet be permitted to
say a few words on the subject. The men to inquire into a
matter of such weight, seriousness, and importance as the
consolidation of the laws, should not be mere diletante men,
but men of deep learning and wisdom. The difficulties and
entanglement of such an object were great—as, for instance.
when such a bill went down to the other house, it would
then: be sifted 4 men of great learning in the law—great
lawyers, and, on the other hand, it would be dealt with by
men who were net learned in the law. He, therefore,
agreed with his noble and learned friend Lord Lyndhurst,
that a question of such magnitude ought not to be entrusted
to the consideration of so mixed an assembly; and that it
ought rather be committed solely to a body of learned men,
who would not only consolidate, but give a good and satis-
factory digest of the statute laws. It was impossible to
overrate the difficulties of the subject ; and there was, there-
fore, the greater necessity to deal thoughtfully and seriously
with it. He lamented that his noble and learned friend
Lord Lyndhurst was absent through indisposition, for his
noble and learned friend was most anxious to be present,
partly for the purpose of assisting his noble and learned
friend Lord Cranworth, and partly because of the great im-
portance and interest of a question in which he felt so deep
an interest. The noble and learned lord paid a high com-
pliment to the industry and intelligence of Mr. Bellenclen
Ker, the Secretary of the Statute Law Commission, and for
his devotedness to:this subject, and the self-sacrificeshe had
made to promote it, and concluded by- hoping that his
noble and learned friend Lord Cranworth would succeed in
his object.
Lord ST. LEONARDS approved of the object of noble
noble and learned friend, but with respect to the expenses
of the statute Law Commission he must say, if it cost this
country one shilling, it cost it at least £90,000. There were
no fewer than 90 bills prepared under the advice of the com-
missioners. He did not complain of that, but he was of opi-
nion that those bills ought to be subjected to a Strict revi-
sion, and that the public ought not otherwise be put to
great additional cost. The labour proposed to be accom-
plished was enormous, and to attempt to impose such a task
as the consolidation of the_ statute laws upon the,Attornoy
and Solicitor-General would be to impose a work on them
which they could never get through. He thought the whole
subject should be referred to a select committee—a species
of tribunal which, in his judgment, would be the most suit-
able to deal with the question. He did not think they could
have the consolidation with the inquiry and report of such
a committee. There should be some high authority to decide
on a subject out of Parliament. If they had a simple edi-
tion of the statutes unencumbered with notes and commen-
taries, it might prove of great value.
Lord WENSLEYDALE thought while the steps taken
by the commission hitherto to consolidate the statute laws
had admittedly effected much that was valuable, they were
yet not sufficient to accomplish the object in view. He
should recommend that the work to be accomplished be
entrusted to one experienced and salaried officer, a distin-
guished member of the bar, rather than to a commission
consisting of 10 or 12 persons.
'Lord CHELMSFORD wished to know whether his noble
and learned friend intended to endeavour at present to pass
the five bills which he spoke of through Parliament, or
merely to lay them upon the table of their lordships' house.
Lord CRANWORTH, in reply, said, in answer to the
questions of his noble and learned friend, his object was so
to consolidate the acts as to leave everything superfluous
out, and shorten the language, and put in only that which
would make the bill a consecutive narrative, and so get rid
of that confusion which now existed. _ _ _

The bill, after a few remarks by Lord BuouGlum in fa-
vour of the scheme-of codification of the laws, which he for
one; would never give up, and by Lord CHELMSFORD, in a
complimentary spirit to Mr, Bellenden Ker, was read a first
time.

The other business on the paper having been disposed o 1
:heir lOrdships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Lords' amendment to the Forth and Clyde Naviga

tion and the Maybole and Girvan. Railway bibs were con-
sidered and agreed to.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Epping Railway ; Isle of Wight Railway (Eastern Sec-
tion) ; Llanrwst and Abergele Roads • London and North
Western Railway (Sutton Coldfield Branch), changed from
" Birmingham, Erdington, and Sutton Coldfield Railway
(Western Line) ;" Norwich and Spalding Railway; Ox-
ford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway ; Sandwith's
Divorce (Lords) ; South Durham and Lancashire Union
Railway; WaveneyValley Railway; Wells and Fakenham
Railway.

On the motion for the third reading of the Chicester Har-
bour Embankment Bill,
Lord C. PAGET said that the Board of Admiralty ob-
jected to the bill on the ground that the proposed embank-
ment was injurious in a military point of view, as batteries
might be erected on it and directed against Portsmouth har-
bour. The inhabitants were also opposed to the bill,
considering that it would if passed have the effect of injur-
ing the local navigation of Chichester. The noble lord
concluded by moving that the bill be read a third time that
day six months.
Mr. BUCHANAN supported the bill.
Mr. H. BERKELEY also supported the bill, and re-
ferred to the favourable report of the select committee, who
had overruled the objections of the Admiralty; after a care-
ful inquiry. •
Mr. KER SEYMER said that he felt bound to support
the amendment.

After some conversation, in which Mr. Bouverie, Mr
"Whitbread, Mr.Bonharn -Carter, Mr. A. Smith, and Sir E
Colebrooke took part, the bill was read a third time and
passed.
The amendments to the following bills were agreed to,
and were read a third time :—Baganelstown and Wex-
ford Railway, Bury St. Edmunds' Gas, Cleveland Rail-
way, Dublin and Drogheda Railway, Finford Bridge and
Banbury Road, Lancashire and Yorkshire and East Lanca-
shire 'Railway Companies, Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax
Junction Railway, Newry and Armagh Railway, North
Eastern and Badele and Leyburn Railway Companies
Amalgamation, Perth, Kinross, and Fife Roads South
Staffordshire Railway, and Victoria Station and Pimlico
Railway.
BRITISH AND CANAOMPANYDIAN. TELEGRAPH
C
On the motion for the consideration of this bill, as
amended,
Lord DUNCAN moved the following amendment :—To
leave out clause 30 (giving power to the Treasury to make
agreement with the company for use of telegraph on her
Majesty's service). He deprecated the practice that prevailed
of giving guarantees for the wenditure of public money by
means of private bills, which he considered did not afford a
sufftoient check. He also proposed that clause 22 should
be expunged.
After some discussion the debate was adjourned until to-
morrow.
FISHING VESSELS PASS/NG
THE MORE BILL.
On the motion of Mr. M. GIBSON, the following com-
mittee on this bill, were nominated :—Mr. M. Gibson, Sir
J. Duke, Mr, R. W. Crawford, Mr. B
and Alderman Salmons; and five
members to be added by
the committee of selection—five to be rm
the sqtuoonr,:r.. Deedes,
GALWAY HARBOUR AND PORT ACT (1863)
On the motionAor Mr. BLA.MlENGNTthßecommittee on this bill
was appointed.

DES'ATCH TO THE BRITISH MINISTER AT
BERLIN.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD gave notice that to-morrow he
would ask the noble lord the Foreign Secretary whether
the despatch which appeared in the evening and some of
the morning papers on Saturday, from the noble lord, was.
authentic.

THE ANTRIM REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY Ar
KINSALE.
Mr. SCULLY asked the Secretary of State for War
whether any report bad reached him of the conduct of the
Utr4e. Regiment of Artillery at Kinsale on the 12th of