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

WORD FOR " THE TLIIES."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING CHRONICLE.
• Sir,--The Times yesterday morning made the
novel and interesting discovery that " Britannia
rules the waves." A little doubtful, perhaps, that
its claims for the honour of first discovery would
be generally admitted, it announced another
marvel, the originality of which stands on a less
indisputable basis—that if Britannia did rule the
waves, that is a thing of the past, and the sceptre
is about to fall from her enfeebled grasp. After
giving birth to many safe platitudes on om
former Naval supremacy, your contemporary,
yesterday morning, disturbed the digestion of
many elderly ladies (of both sexes) by asking,
" How, then, it may be asked, have we lived thus
long in security while the reality of dominion is
slipping from our hands ?" I was certainly not
myself aware that the "slipping" had commenced.
I suspect, however, that even the Times dates our
decadence simply from the day of Bernal Osborne's
dismissal from Dover, the whole of which national
calamity has been laid at the Admiralty's door.
Let us examine a little more closely into the origin
of the cry of the downfall of England, her approach-
ing fall, and the causes that are to make her the
" Niobe of nations."
To such of your readers who " skip" one column of
the journals, headed " The Money Market and City
News," I may mention that there is an ingenious
but indefensible operation in the Stock Exchange
called " Bearing the market." All speculators who
" operate for a fall" are " Bears," those who try for
a rise are " Bulls." To " Bear " the market is to
set some false report afloat, to give impetus to a
vague rumour, and a vigorous push to any lie that
may serve the desired end. Favourite Bear dodges
are—assassination of the French Emperor, an
insurrection at Paris or Vienna, or any other false
report that may shake the confidence of the holders
of stock, or damp the ardour of intending inves-
tors. Now, it seems to me that there is a possi-
bility of " Bearing" the nation, as well as the Stock
Exchange ; and by exactly the same dishonest
course—by giving currency to idle fears, cowardly
misgivings, spreading abroad alarms that have no
existence, and making misrepresentations of things
that really do exist.
I do not quarrel with the Times for favouring
the present rulers of the Government with disparag-
ing comments on their motives and actions ; but I
do quarrel with the 'limes for its uu-English spirit.
The Times is just 'doing what the very worst haters
of England and her hereditary foes have been doing
for the last sixty years. It has always been a
trump card among French writers, " whose wish
is father to their thought," that England is
going downhill as fast as she can gallop. It
was the pet prophecy of ill-omened birds in
the days of Mirabeau, who replied to their
croakings in this strain : " England lost !
In what latitude, I pray you, has she been ship-
wrecked ? I see her, on the contrary, active, power-
ful, coining forth strong out of a periodical agitation,
and about to fill up a gap in her constitution with
the energy of a great people." Seventy years have
passed since Mirabeau uttered these words, which
seem to me wonderfully applicable to the present
moment. It would be easy to show how constantly
this cuckoo note has been taken up since, but I
may refer to Ledru-Rollin and his celebrated "De
la Decadence de l'Angleterre," and the more mode.
rate-minded Montalembert, in his equally celebrated
" De l'Avenir Politique de l'Angleterro."
According to each of these prophets, England
ought to be by this time a French dependency, or
at least a fourth-rate Power. The Times' vatici-
nations are in exactly the same spirit. With its
prophetic eye it sees " the tall and smokeless chim-
neys of Lancashire" falling to pieces. There is to
be no more smoke for char Old England, except
that which is generously supplied by the limes in
its leading articles.
The sad fate that is awaiting " the tall and
smokeless chimneys," and the consequent decay of
English commerce and English credit, is entirely
to be attributed to-our growing inability to main-
tain our power of holding the seas. Only admit
the premises, and what may you not prove trium-
phantly ? I dispute the premises, and repeat with
Mirabeau—England was never more " active or
powerful" than at this moment. Terrific as the
drain has been upon her resources by the Crimean
war and the Indian revolt, since which an Empire
has been reconquered, she comes out of the strife
lusty as a young eagle ! And " she is now about to
fill a gap in her constitution with the energy of a
great people."
The patriotism of thatpaper does not stand in the
way of prophesying our " decline and fall," as long
as it gives it a chance of a fling at the Ministry.
All its wrath is concentrated ou the devoted head
of Sir John Pakington, and those under him at the
Admiralty. The charge is made something in the
same spirit as a dexterous advocate's address to
the jury, who makes out a strong case, but omits
to call any witnesses. What proof have we that
the Admiralty patronage has been made subservient
to political purposes during the present Adminis-
tration P -Why, then, if it has not been, what right
have we to assume that it will be ? But the Times
does bring forward :an instance in support of its
position : " The fact remains, that during the two
recent campaigns in the Baltic and Black Sea the
British Navy was not what it had been in former
days." It is possible to call a witness who may
swear you out of court.

Fortunately for my political creed it is not
necessary to support it by blackening the repu-
tation of these who differ from me; bu even ad-
mitting the Times' insinuation, that Sir Charles
Napier and Lord Lyons -were not of the same
"school as the old Mediterranean Fleet of Jervis,
Nelson, Collingwood, and Exmouth," who was it

that appointed those degenerated Admirals ? The
organ of Lord Palmerston's party, for fixing the
date (as it would seem) of the decline of England's
maritime superiority, instead of dating it from the
accession of the Conservative party to power, ought,
by its own showing, to go a little further back.
It may suit the Times " book" to speak of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer's most admirable
and reassuring address as an electioneering speech
to those whom our contemporary calls " the squires
and tenant - farmers of Buckinghamshire," and
" their bucolic minds ;" but Mr. Disraeli, when
in that small county-hall at Aylesbury, spoke not to
his constituents alone, but to universal England—
nay, to the world itself. By this time that speech
has struck terror into the souls of many a despot—
has dashed to the earth the project of Absolutists
—has reassured the desponding, and fortified
the weak-hearted. And this has been accomplished,
not by the rhetorician's art, by the pomp of words,
or vivid imagery, or swelling sentences—and no one
has those auxiliaries more completely at his com-
mand than the right honourable gentleman—but
by the simple magic of facts. He invoked not the
names of Cressy and Poictiers, nor of Trafalgar
—"Nelson and the Line"—but aroused the enthu-
siasm of his audience by the announcement of one
fact—" You will have, before six weeks have
passed, not only a powerful fleet in the Channel,
but a powerful fleet in the Mediterranean also."
_leers.) Does this look as if the honour and glory
of England were about to be jeopardised by the
supineness of the Admiralty Board ? The ink can
be scarcely dry that announced in your columns a
Royal Proclamation, giving to every able seaman a
bounty of £lO on enlistment ; and it will be remem-
bered that a high proof of our Sovereign's apprecia-
tion of a recent invention or improvement in gunnery
has been shown to a man of science, in the_ i
what the
person
And
of Sir William Armstrong.
object of these costly preparations—thesewh great
armaments ? Not for attack, but simply for
defence. All that England wants is " to hold
her own ;" she has territory enough, and to
spare. She will, however, maintain her national
honour; all the despots in the world may league
against her, but she will_ vindicate her own honour,
and her children's absolute interests. Well did
Mr. Disraeli say :—" It will not be England that
will suffer; it is Europe that will be injured; and
those Potentates whose pride, ambition, and lust of
conquest bring about this dangerous state of affairs
will find themselves in the end in an inferior posi-
tion to that which they now occupy."
While there is no ground for despondency, I
must admit that the position of England is not
without its perils at the present moment. We see
her standing amongst the nations—almost alone;
and yet serene, undaunted, conscious in her
strength, but in no hurry to display it. She is
hated on the Continent alike by Absolutists, Inqui-
sitionists, and Revolutionists; even those who love
her free institutions hate her for having what the);
are deprived of themselves. " The grapes are
always "sour" to those who cannot reach them.
But the Wines must have a sneer at the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer's allusion to Australia and
America, as no longer confining the balance of
power to the barriers of Europe. To
ask, has England a better right to lookwhonfio,rl
aswosuisltd_
ance, should she ever require it, than to her own
planted, the peoples
children, the colonies she has
she has raised ? Did shenopt mialklee
freedom
eoff
the
great Powers of the world _
great Republic was not the fruit of her own revo-
lution, but it sprang from the free institutions
under which England had nurtured her colonies.
Let us, then, smile at such old-womanish fears,
and not suppose that the destinies of this mighty
empire depend upon the sort of man we have as
First Lord of the Admiralty. Whether it be Sir
James Graham or Sir John Pakington who fills
that responsible office, we can have no fear that the
interests of the nation will be betrayed in either
case. if Ministers had the inclination (which I
am Englishman enough to doubt) to ruin their
country, I do not believe they have the power.

Every man, woman, and Child in these islet is in-
terested in our naval supremacy, and has therefore
a right to be a critic. Do not let-us goseroaking about
our " defenceless state," the incapacity of our Ad-
mirals, and the jobbery of our Ministry. What-
ever weak points we do possess are pretty well
known to our enemies, without our magnifying
them.—Your obedient servant,
Carlton Club, May 6.

K. G.

ESTABLISHMENT OF :RIFLE CO,

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY AND TOWN.
A most numerous and enthusiastic meeting, having for its
object the establishment of a rifle club and corps for mem-
bers of the above-mentioned bodies, was held on Friday
(yesterday) at the Town-hall under the presidency of ths
Mayor, Mr. C. Ball. Such was the interest excited, that
the large room at the Town-hall, was densely crowded, and
numbers went away unable to obtain admission. On the
platform were the Vice-Chancellor of the University (Dr.
Bateson), the Rev. Dr.Whewell (Master of Trinity College),
Dr. Guest (blaster of Caius College), the Rev. Dr. Okes
e. 11lr. Emeryßt. 3i
F a
(Provost of King's College), Professors Selwyn and Fisher,
Dr. Leapingwell, Mr. Potts, M.A., Colonel Wale, Captain
Davies, h
(Corpusweett,Ccoll. eig,nine),
cMisessanrds.
H.
Beales, C. the
Ry
H. Cooper,
H. Harris. A number of other University dignitaries and
gentlemen of high position in the town were present, and
the undergraduates were in strong force.
The MAYOR briefly opened the proceedings, expressing
his cordial sympathy with the objects of the meeting.
The Very Rev. the Vren-CualccELLon. (Dr. Batesor,
Master of St. John's College), ciao was received with rounds
of applause, said that he had felt much reluctance to
take part in the day's proceedings when the matter was
first mentioned to him, for he had to consider his
own professional position as a clergyman, the peculiar
character of the town, as a place devoted to the study and
the arts of peace, and in particular the nature of the office
which he had the honour of holding. His first impression
then was to be reserved and cautious in his official position,
however willing he might be in his individual capacity to
promote the objects for which the meeting was convened.
But when he saw that the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, that part of the Government which was spe-
cially charged with the care of domestic peace and protec-
tion, had publicly stated that the Government would be
glad if patriotic persons would come forward to enrol them-
selves in volunteer corps, he felt no longer any hesitation—
he thought it was the bounden duty of every citizen to obey
the call of the Government, for such he considered it to be,
and do what lay in his power to promote any measure that
might be necessary for our defence and protection. He (the
Vice-Chancellor) thought there was no occasion for much
alarm, much less for any feeling of panic—for he believed
there never was a time when this country was better pre-
pared at the outbreak of hostilities, and he had the ut-
most reliance on our power to augment almost to any extent
our military equipment. Still it was necessary to rouse the
military spirit of the country, and he thought there were no
means to accomplish this end which were more practicable
or more likely to be efficacious than the enrolment of such a
corps as it was the object of that meeting to form. (Cheers.)
Much had been said on the use of the rifle, and the pecu-
liar character of our country rendering that arm effective
for defensive warfare. Those arguments he thoroughly
believed to be founded in reason and good sense. No doubt
the formation of a rifle corps in a place like Cambridge
must be looked upon as a very significant event. (Cheers.)
It was no light matter for them, dedicated as they were to
study and the arts of peace, to come forward and take part
in warlike exercises. It would doubtless be attended by
some inconvenience that military exercises should be fos-
tered and encouraged in the University. But there were
times when all questions of mere convenience must give
place to higher considerations, and as he (the Tice-Chan •
cellor) thought that time had now arrived, he did not hesi-
tate to say that it would give him satisfaction, and that he
should feel it to be his duty in his official capacity, to give
every encouragement to the objects which the meeting was
called to promote. (Loud cheers.) He had therefore much
pleasure in proposing—" That this meeting is of opinion
that in the present aspect of public affairs it is desirable to
form rifle clubs, and that in accordance with this view it
determines to form a rifle club for the University and town
of Cambridge." (Renewed cheers.)
Mr. FAWCETT said he would net enter upon the question
of the European war, a subject which was too deep for his
ken, and even for the greatest statesmen and most profound
authorities to fathom, and say where the lead should touch
the bottom. He would pray that God would so govern
events and the hearts of our rulers, that we might be pre-
served from implication in it. The duty of England might
be expressed in -two words, " entire neutrality." He did
not mean by that entire inactivity, but that we should be
prepared to resist any aggression. He had been told that
the formation of such clubs was the very course most likely
to bring an invading army here, but he denied that, and
maintained that the best way to keep them out was to show
an attitude of what had been aptly termed in another place
"recumbent strength"—that we were prepared to repel any
aggression. As a means to that end he had much pleaiure
in seconding the resolution. (Cheers.)
Mr. H. S. FOSTER asked if the intended corps would be
called upon to serve abroad ?
The MAYOR could not answer that question. That must
of course entirely depend upon circumstances as they arose.
Dr. PAGET moved the second resolution :—" That steps
be taken to obtain the sanction of the Government to the
enrolling of such members of the club as desire it into a
Rifle Corps, to consist of a university and town division."
He was proud that Cambridge had taken the lead in this
movement. In saying that he spoke both as a member of
the University and an inhabitant of the town ; he was
proud they should be the first to respond to the call of the
Government, for such he took that to be which fell from
the lips of the Home Secretary. In addition, it augured
well for the club, for it was one of the duties of a rifleman
to be first in the field—(cheers)—and the last out. If
the example were followed, as it was sure to be, thei would
soon have 200,000 or 300,000 of the young men of England,
who were capable of using the rifle efficiently. At any
rate, the use of the rifle as a national pastime would be en-
couraged ; a practice which went far to explain the surpris-
ing victories of the inhabitants of the Tyrol. (Cheers.)
Mr. BEALES seconded the resolution.
The Rev. Mr. ruErty, of Corpus College, proposed
"That a donation list be at once open to defray the preli-
minary expenses of the club ; that a donation of five guineas
constitute a life member, and that a practising or non-prac-
tising member pay an entrance fee of 10s. Gd., and a sub-
scription of one guinea per annum." He found himself in
a somewhat unexpected position, that he, a minister of
peace, should be found proposing a donation and subscription
list to forward the purposes of war ; but seeing the Vice-
Chancellor, Dr. ",Vhewell, and Professor Selwyn, the latter
of whom was about to move a resolution, on the platform,
he thought he might be proud of his position. A clergyman,
a minister of Christ, had his duty to perform to his country.
and if he had not the good of his country at heart he could
not make an efficient clergyman, as the people would not
listen to his counsels. He had always found that if he would
do good among the population he must show himself an
hoaest open straightforward Englishman. (Loud cheers.)
Our religion was one of common sense, and it taught us
"When a strong man armed keepeth his place his goods
are in peace : but when a stronger than he shall come upon
him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all the armour
wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." (Loud and
continued cheering.) As a country, it behoved us to see
that our house was so well armed that nothing could over-
come us. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Emery, after entering upon
the details for the formation of and maintenance of the club,
read a number of promised donations. The list included
the names of several ladies, and the mention of these was
rapturously_cheered. A number of heads of houses have
subscribed a guineas each; Mr. Adeane, M.P., £lO.
Mr. FRANCIS (solicitor) seconded the resolution, and men-
tioned to Mr. Emery, as a case in point, the fact that in the
"old volunteer" times, a relative of his own, a clergyman,
who afterwards rose to be an archdeacon, was a member of
one of those corps, which used to go to service on Sunday
morning and as regularly turn out on parade in the after-
noon,
li(Lceauovghertehri.s)
gown in order gbeprueatdoynfohribsatstulerP.
The Rev. Professor SELWYN moved the appointment of
.theelergtuta
hen mighthavin
a number of gentlemen as a provisional committee. A ques-
tion had been asked, he said, as to the destination of the
corps ; but, he said, he trusted they would not make it a
condition, as was once the case with a regiment of volun-
teers, that they should not quit England, except in case of
an invasion. (Roars of laughter.) Professor Selwyn quoted
the noble conduct of Walker at the siege of Londonderry as
a proof of what might be done by a clergyman, though the
latter afterwards exceeded his duty by going to the battle
of the Boyne, where he was killed. After some other hu-
mourous and patriotic remarks, the professor wound up by
saying that the best orators on such matters as this were
those of the school of Demosthenes. After hearing other
orators, the audience went away expressing their admira-
tion of the speeches, but after hearing Demosthenes, they
exclaimed, "Come, let us fight Philip." (Loud cheers,), In
conclusion he said :

" Si vis pacem pari bellum,"
and he trusted such steps would now be taken as would
secure for this country at once and for ever the blessings of
peace. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. ADEANE, M.P., seconded the resolution. He ex-
pressed a hope that the county would not be long behind
them, but would soon establish a mounted corps in gene-
rous rivalry. He had not the honour of being a member of
a university himself, but he had been taught " Ingenuas
didicisse fideliter artes emollit mores, nec sinit ease feros ;"
but he found that university men were as fierce as ever in
defence of their country. (Loud cheers and laughter.) He
believed that the despot of France had no intention of in-
vading England, but whether or no, the'seas were no
longer our defences as they were bridged over by steam.
They had to depend upon the men of England now, and
such a proceeding as that would do more than all the armies
or fle2ts to terrify a despot. In conclusion, Mr. Adoane
said :

But glory that aspires to last
Leans not meanly on the past.
'Tis the present that demands
British hearts and British hands.
Cursed be the man,
the slave
Who waits who lingers to be brave,
Cursed be t'he craven tongue that dare
Breathe one accent of despair;
wil lin
Cold as winter's icy hand
To chill the genius of the land."
Were of a
(Rounds of cheers.)
Dr. FISHER proposed, and Mr. H. H. HARRIS seconded
mthaeynbteerfauldingaetdediroTinhatthethfeayet
a vote of thanks to the Mayor and Vice-Chancellor, and
the same was courteously acknowledged.
names are already entered. 700
pralcitiecalllrgieedaratrs

STATE OF TURKEY.--The attention of the British
public is at this moment so exclusively directed to Italy,
that it would be vain to say much about Turkish matters ;
but you must permit me to observe en passant that we are on
the eve of a general rising in European Turkey. The Pone
has about 120,000 men concentrated at Shumla, Sophia,
&c., and Omar Pasha is coming on the wings of the wind
from Bagdad to the Turkish capital, but the Russo-French
plan for the dismemberment of Turkey is a good one, and
in all human probability the days of the Mussulmans in
Europe are numbered. lam unable at present to give you
any positive information on the subject ; but there is reason
to believe that the Oriental question will be before
the public again befpre the world is two months older.
Movements have recently been observed in Montenegro
which have induced the Austrians to strengthen the de-
fences of Cattaro on the land side. Prince Milosch is rais-
ing the Servian militia, and in a short time he is likely to
have between 30,000 and 40,000 fighting men under his
command. Prince Couza has demanded back the arms
which the Russians carried off with them then they quitte
the Danubian Principalities at the beginning of the last
war, and the chances are that they will be returned,
ttho,
French Government having declared that the reotres_!
the Hospodar is a reasonable one. Bulgarils,e
Alhania, Mace
tively speaking, quiet, but the political agitation
southern provinces of Turkey in Europe:Tingly
great. In
donia, Thessaly, and Thrace—is
mexcee
I that the moment
Greece itself the patriots openly declare
h arrived.— Vienna Letter.
for enlarging the kingdom 'has in the