The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-05 00:00:00

there are abundant visible and audible evidences of
confusion, disgust, and indignation. While other
Parliamentary notabilities may be, and sometimes
are, preceded by a shower of bouquets while they
walk the streets of their happy boroughs at election
time, and receive the plaudits of their constituents
—Mr. LowE drags after him an uncomfortable
trail of brickbats and potsherds. It is simply a
coincidence, of course—but still it is curious enough

even as a coincidence ! We can only hope that
the beer down at Bowood was of the " right tap"
—and not the bludgeons !

The rigour of battle has been softened since the
grand day of the 24th June ; for now we find that
the Emperor NAPOLEON, wishing to mitigate the

wounds of war, has been actuated by a generous
humanity, and has sent back the wounded Austrian
officers without exchange. In this noble act of
sympathy for the sufferings of his fellow-men, he has
been cordially met by the youn g Emperor of AUSTRIA
who, acting on the most chivalrous benignity has
sent back the French wounded officers who have
fallen into his hands. He has also consented to an
exchange of prisoners, so that we hope this is but
the beginning of a nobler era in the perils of war
than has yet been manifested on either side.

If the Austrians were wise, even now, they
might save the lives of thousands—nay, tens
thousands—by yielding to necessity with a good
grace, instead of struggling against fate with
an obstinacy which must entail more disgrace,
and become eventually more disastrous. But it is
idle to advise, for men in:thepresent perplexity of the
Emperor FRANCIS JOSEPH, misled by his over-
experienced yet presumptuous generals, will
tempt his fate, and fight on until the
hour of destiny has struck his doom!
We can really pity a young Prince so fallen from
his high estate yet struggling against fate. He
has committed himself too much and has accomplished
too little. Perhaps his Generals may look upon
him in the light of an incumbrance, whose orders
they are bound to obey, even against their own
better judgment. It is a maxim with us that
" the King can do no, wrong"—but with despotic
monarchs the presumption to doubt the infalli-
bility of Sovereign wisdom were " flat blasphemy !'
But time and circumstance laugh at these grave
assumptions, just as the flowing tide urged on its
irrespective wave regardless of the behest of CANUTE.
And so it was, and so it ever will be, for kings are
but men after all, and none the better for their ill-
abused dignity.
We expect in a few days that the Emperor
NAPOLEON will give a good account of the Aus-
trians at Verona, while the King of SARDINIA is
pressing hard the siege of Pescheira.
We now hear that a French force of 10,000 men
have landed at Lussienpiccolo, on the coast of
Istria, in the vicinity of Pola, and the bridge to
Cherso has been destroyed. If the French mean
to attack Pola, which contains the remnant of the
Austrian Navy—a place very strong by nature, but
rendered doubly strong by art, then we may feel
bound to watch the progress of events with more
solicitude than usual, for Pola is another Malta in
the Adriatic, and might become more formidable
than pleasant in the hands of a strong naval
Power.

L01?D J. RUSSELL AND THE BALLOT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

DEAR SlR,—Allow me to thank you for the very
able article in Friday evening's Sun, on the recent
correspondence between Mr. Samuel Morley and
Mr. George Russell.
I confess to being surprised that Lord J. Russell
did not personally reply to such an influential con-
stituent as Mr. Morley, and I entertain doubts
whether Mr. George Russell has correctly repre-
sented the opinions of Lord J. Russell in his reply
to Mr. Morley. Mr. Russell's reply is certainly
inconsistent with Lord John's latest expression of
his views on the question.

LORD JOHN RUSSELL. MR. GEO. RUSSELL.
" I confess I have modified " Lord John Russell con-
my opinion this far, that Ido tinues to be of opinion that
not think if this mode of vot- the evils to which, in his
ino- were adopted, that it would view, the Ballot would give
lead to those injurious conse- rise, would prove greater
quences which I formerly an- than those which at present
ticipated." Speech in the exist."--Letter to Mr. S.
Mouse of Commons, Api i/12, Morley, June 24, 1859.
1859.
The letter is obviously wrong. Lord John does
not continue in the same opinion, because he him-
self in April said he did not hold the opinion attri-
buted to him in June by his secretary. If the
letter be a correct statement of his present opinion,
he does not continue of any opinion, but has gone
back to that view which in April he abandoned.
The letter, contrasted with the speech, gives rise
to various questions. •
Does Lord John know what his opinion on the
Ballot really is?
Was Mr. Russell's reply to Mr. Morley a correct
expression of the noble lord's present views on the
Ballot ?
•

Was the modification of Lord John's views in
April a trap for votes, like his celebrated promise
to reconsider the Ballot question at the election of
1857 ?

Perhaps Mr. Russell will reply to these ques
tions.—Yours faithfully,

A CITY ELECTOR
Guildhall•chambers, E.C., July 4, 1859.

STEAM VESSELS.—A return moved for by Mr.
Thomas Baring, M.P., and ordered to be printed on the
10th of June, shows that on cr before the Ist of January
last, there were 1,854 steam vessels registered in the United
Kingdom, with a tonnage (gross) of 682,433.
The Echo de l'Est of Nancy states that the corps
d'armee of Marshal Pelissier, wLich is destined to observe
the frontier of the Rhine, is to be completely formed and
established in its cantonments by the 15th of this month.
It is to consist of 160,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry, and 400
cannon.
THE COURT OF PROBATE.—A Government Bill
enables the Cemmissioner of Works to acquire a site for
the purposes of the Court of Probate and other courts and
offices. The property to be dealt with includes offices and
buildings in Great Knightrider -street, and the College of
Advocates and Doctors of Laws.
TIIE TEA TRADE, July 4.—The deliveries in Lon-
don estimates for the week were 845,9941 b., which is an in-
crease of 54,3491 b. compared with the previous statement.
GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—Her Majesty's Emi-
gration Commissioners chartered two vessels yesterday after-
noon, the 4th inst.—viz., the Bermondsey, 507 tons, to
sail from Southampton for Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope,
at £l3 3s. 6d. per statute adult, and the John and Lucy,
1,236 tons, to sail from Liverpool for Table Bay, Cape of
Good Hope, at £ll 7s. 3d. per statute adult; the former
vesgel to be ready for the reception of passengers on such
day as the Commissioners may appoint between the 18th
and 25th of August, and the latter any day between the
22d and 29th of August. Each ship must be supplied with
50 fathoms of chain cable in addition to the quantity re-
quired for the Australian voyage.
The DOVER ELECTION PETITION.—The arrange-
ments for the immediate prosecution of the petition against
the return of Sir H. J. Leeke, K.C.8., and K.H., and Mr.
W. Nicol are now nearly completed. Some of the first coun-
sel are now engaged, and, we understand, the revelations
likely to come to light, involving the honour and position of
several fellow townsmen, will be of an astonishing nature.
The whole machinery made use of in corrupting the voters
and in securing votes will be brought to the light of day, and
it is not unlikely that more than one will be made the sub-
ject for prosecution, and not a few will be disfranchised.
Sir James Graham's committee of inquiry will, in all pro-
bability, come off after the petition.—Dover Chronicle.
TREMENDOUS STORM AT CHATHAM.—The neigh-
bourhood of Chatham and Rochester was visited at an early
hour on Sunday morning by one of the most tremendous
storms of lightning and rain ever experienced, which lasted
upwards Of an hour, and from its fury more resembled the
typhoons of tropical climates than anything previously
witnessed in this country. For about an hour before
the storm commenced the heavens were brilliantly lighted
up, almost without intermission, with the most vivid
flashes of sheet lightning, which followed each other in
rapid succession, occasionally accompanied by peals of
thunder, the wind at the time being easterly. Shortly after
12 o'clock the rain began to fall in torrents, coming down
literally in sheets of water, the flashes of lightning being
incessant. Many of the streets and nearly the whole of
the lower parts of Chatham and Rochester were soon
flooded, and in places were rendered altogether impassable.
In low situations the celiars and lower parts of the houses
became filled with water, which, as the rain continued to
descend, kept on increasing. At Melville (naval) Hospital
a considerable portion of the establishment was filled with
till nearly halfTpast one yester-
water. The agriculturists of the iwighbourhood will suffer
immense loss, in consequence of the wheat having been
beaten down. After raging
day morning the storm abated, and the remainder of the
day was beautifully fine, with intense heat.