The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-30 00:00:00

TUE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 30, 1859

to regard his superb and, many of them inimitable,
essays, as the noblest contribution of this rare
intellect to the treasures of our national literature.

When a man has done his duty to the best of his
ability—be that man a private individual or a
public character, he may well feel his conscience at
ease. Not but he occasionally reflects that many
short-comings might have been better achieved did
time and opportunity permit. In fact no man is
ever satisfied with himself on the success of his
labours be they ever so well accomplished while
his ambition regrets that he has not done more.
Such is the penalty of having done much and of hav-
ing obtained the applause, not only of his fellow-
men, but even of his country at large. But even
in this regret there is a noble patriotism which
stimulates others to like exertions, and so con-
duces to national benefit, while it serves to indi-
vidual excellence by the success of envied en-
terprise. Now this principle has been carried
out to its full development by Sir JOHN PAR-
INGTON—Iate First Lord of the Admiralty,
and previously Secretary for the Colonies during
the two Administrations of the Earl of DERBY. In
his latter position he was eminently instrumental
in conferring a new constitution on New Zealand,
to the grateful appreciation of the Colonists, and
would have extended the same liberal spirit to the
other Colonies did time permit, but he remained
only some ten months in office, and found his re-
ward in the thanksgivings of New Zealand after he
had resigned power.

Then, as to his Administration of the Navy, the
whole country—nay, even his successors, are loud
in his praise. To be applauded by one's friends
fos having done well is very grateful to the heart ;
but to extort commendation from one's rivals is the
very charm of political popularity. Now, all
these have been accorded to Sir JOHN PAKINGTON,
and he may well be proud of them.
On his assuming the office of First Lord of the
Admiralty he found that qthe surest bulwark
of our national safety had been wofully neglected.
From what cause it were now idle to inquire. But
the fact that that office had been filled for some
years by SIR CHARLES WOOD may partly explain
it. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON actually found that the
number of our line-of-battle ships had been allowed
to dwindle down below those •f the French !
while our frigates and other smaller vessels were
infinitely less. On the other hand he found that
we had gunboats far outnumbering those of the
French, but to his surprise and mortification
scarcely one of them would float ! No ;
they were all neatly pigeoned up in rows
on sundry dry slips, and to mend the
matter, not one would come down again !
These were the indomitable Boats that were to
destroy the Russians in the shallow waters of the
Baltic, but, like all our other inscrutable manage-
ment of the Navy, the Boats were only built after
the war was nearly over, and so they came for-
ward just in time to be too late. This was Whig
management. It is possible they were never in-
tended to be in time to hurt the Russians.

Then again our line-of-battle ships were mostly
sailing vessels—mere logs on the water as opposed
to screw line-of-battle ships. And what did Sir
JOHN PAKINGTON do ? Why he not only ordered
a fleet of screw vessels both of the line and frigates
to be laid down and pushed forward with the
utmost alacrity, but he also set about converting
the sailing ships into screws, thereby work-
ing double tides to restore the British Navy
to its old preponderance over every other. And
for this patriot spirit, so wisely and so firmly carried
out—aye ! carried out in the face end almost in
spite of his own Cabinet, has Sir JOHN PAKINGTON
obtained the applause of his QUEEN and admiring
countrymen.

But Sir JOHN did not work for applause—no!
he exerted himself as a true patriot—anxious to
protect his native land against any emergency—be
it ever so accidental. And now his mantle has
fallen, we hope and trust, on other worthy shoulders
who will endeavour to give more efficiency to our
ships, and more satisfaction to those who man
them.

The City and County of Worcester have don•
themselves much honour by their appreciation of
their fellow•townsmen (for Sir JOHN is of Wor-
cester), in presenting him on Wednesday last with
a magnificent shield in token of their esteem.

And Sir JOHN, in returning thanks in a modest
but honest spirit of pride, made, among other ob-
servations, the following excellent remarks which,
we cordially hope, may make a due and fitting
impression on these who thought that the worthy
baronet was only fit to be a chairman of Quarter
Sessions—a post which he had so well filled for
many years : •

" I cannot refrain from an expression of my wish that this
day, so memorable and so gratifying to me—so memorable
to those dear to me—should, if possible, be of benefit to
others. lam one of those who believe that we may always
draw a moral lesson from such proceedings as these.
There are not a few of those who are here this evening,
and there are still more who will read what has passed
here to-day, whose course of life is still before them. I
hope you will not think that I am guilty of presumption
or egotism if I venture to touch for a moment on those
principles of action to which I mainly attribute the honour
which on this occasion it has been my fortune to receive.
Have I attained those honours through the exercise of any
great or transcendent talent ? Certainly not. Have I
gained them as the reward of extensive and varied acquire-
ments ? Certainly not ; but if it has been my good fortune
to merit in any degree that favour which I have received
from my most gracicus Sovereign ; if I have deserved any
portion of that kindness which I have received in Cris my
native county ; if 1 have been able to administer those
various departments of the State which have been en-
trusted to mr, and which my noble friend in the chair
has alluded to in such flattering terms ; if I have been
able to administer them without disadvantage to the
public service, and without discredit to myself, I firmly be
lieve that I am indebted to the exercise of qualities and the
adoption of rules which are equally in the power and com-
pass of those who hear me, and of any man who is desirous
to take part in the public affairs of the country. lam in-
debted for whatever measure of success I have attained in
my public life to a combination of moderate abilities with
honesty of intention, firmness of purpose, and steadiness
of conduct. If I were to offer advice to any 'young
man anxious to make himself useful in public life, I
would sum up the results of my experience in three
short rules—rules so simple that any man may under-
stand them, and so easy that any man may act upon them
My first rule would be—Leave to others to judge of what
duties you are capable, and to what position you are fitted,
but never refuse to give your services in whatever capacity
it may be the opinion of others who are competent to judge
that you may benefit your neighbours or your country. My
second rule is—When you agree to undertake public duties
concentrate every energy and faculty in your possession,
with the determination to discharge those duties to the best
of your ability. Lastly, I would counsel you that, in de-
ciding on the line which you will take in public affairs,
you should be guided in your decision by that which, after
mature deliberation, you believe to be right, and not by that
which, in the passing hour, may happen to be fashionable
or popular. Fashion has its uses, and is all very well when
applied to the light and trivial things to which it relates;
out fashion in public affairs is out of place. Popularity, in
the lowest and most common sense, is not worth the having.
Do your duty to the best of your power—win the approba-
tion of your own conscience, and popularity in its best
and highest sense is sure to follow. I would not ex-
change the recollection of this day for all the acclama-
tions that ever greeted the most popular man in England."

These are the sentiments of a man who may as
well be proud of himself as he is worthy of his
country. But it is the consciousness of the honest
performance of his duty that is uppermost in Sir
JOHN PAKINGTON's mind. He seeks no vain-
glory for himself, but is anxious that others
should profit by his experience, and therefore. he
unfolds his heart to his hearers with an earnestness

worthy of all commendation. To him, like the
patriot of old—
" One hour of self-applause, whole years outweighs,
Of stupid starers, and of loud huzzas ;
And more true joy Marcellus exiled feels
Than Cesar with a Senate at his heels I"

Honour ! long and lasting honour be to Sir
JOHN PAKINGTON as the Regenerator of the
British Navy, and may all his successors follow so
good and so patriotic an example !

A very interesting public meeting was held on
Tuesday last, in the city of Dublin, for the purpose
of prsenting an address to Captain Mc CLINTOCK,
R.N. Few public testimonials have been more
richly merited, than this recognition of the emi-
nent services rendered by the gallant captain in the
cause of Arctic discovery. Gratifying as such a
ceremony must always be to the recipient of the
honour, it is doubly so when those who present the
address are fellow citizens, who acknowledge the
distinction reflected upon them, and regard his
triumph in some sort as their own. The claims
which Captain M'CLINTOCK possesses upon the
gratitude of his country are succinctly stated in a
paragraph of the address --" We deem it a duty to
recognise your last Arctic expedition as the fourth
in which you have engaged—the three preceding
having been in the service of the Crown—to call to
mind that you have passed six winters in the Polar
sea—that during that time you have travelled be-
tween 5,000 and 6,000 miles on foot within the
Arctic circle, the laborious employment of 416
. days, of which more than 2,000 miles have been in
the geographical exploration of coast line—that
you organised and improved sledge travelling to
such a degree as to extend your journey from
500 miles on your first expedition, to 1,500 miles
on you( third." Captain MCLINTOCK might well
say in his answer to the address, that the motto of
the executive office should be, " Deeds, not words."
He has proved his right to such a motto by a long
course of arduous and perilous services, happily
crowned at last by the discovery of the last sad
relics of the hapless crews of the Erebus and Terror.
It gives, however, additional poignancy to our sor-
row for the untimely fate of those brave men, when
we reflect that had the plans of Dr. KING, which
we have so often strenuously advocated, been
adopted by the Admiralty, very probably many of
the survivors of the expedition might have
been restored to their country. It is another
proof of the evils of official obstinacy and routine ;
but it is paying a dear price for the lesson, to reflect
that we have lost the chance of rescuing any of
those sufferers whom we have despatched so many
expeditions to relieve.
The tone of Captain M'CLlNTocies reply to the
address was all that could bo expected from an
officer of his high character and genuine merit.
After acknowledging the compliment paid him
by the citizens of Dublin—an honour they
rarely accord to public men—he briefly re-
ferred to the motives which had actuated
him in his undertaking, and ended by pass-
ing a warm eulogium on the heroic perseve-
rance of the noble lady who projected the expedi-
tion on her own responsibility. The praise awarded
to him individually he shared with his companions
in toil and danger, and expressed his sentiments
that the success of his efforts fully repaid him for
his years :of painful search. We are glad to find
the citizens of Dublin have taken this early oppor-
tunity of expressing their admiration of the heroic
qualities of a countryman of whom they may well
be justly proud.

LATEST NEWS.

The following telegrams have been received at
lir. Reuter's office :

ROME, DEC. 29.
Today, Cardinal Antonelli had a long interview
w:th the Due de Grammont.

The French Ambassodor has received by a
courier, who left Paris on the 24th inst., some
explanations destined to re-assure the Holy See on
the object and bearing of the pamphlet, " Le Pape
et le Congrea."

PARIS, FRIDAY.

The Couneil of Ministers has resolved upon not
giving any official denial to the pamphlet " The
Pope and the Congress." As the 21Ioniteur, the only
official organ of the French Government, has not
mentioned the pamphlet, its publication is to be
considere I as a home affair (affaire interieure),
which the foreign Powers could not notice in their
diplomatic intercourse with France.

PARIS, DEC. 29.

The Pays of this evening contains an article
signed by M. Granier de Cassagnac on the
pamphlet " The Pope and the Congress," which,
the article:states," has been wrongly interpreted by
the newspapers." The pamphlet does not propose
to deprive the Pope of the Legations, but advises
his Holiness to submit to the present state of
things, and proclaims the necessity of maintaining
the temporal power of the Pope. M. de Granier
adds, the pamphlet confines itself to pronouncing
an opinion ; the Congress alone will decide, and
even after that the Church will remain full and
entire.

BIG BEN.-MEARS v. DENISON.

LITERATUR.E.

Lucy Crofton. By the author of " Margaret
Maitland," &e.

Those who have read " Orphans," a former pro-
duction by this author will willingly avail them-
selves of this opportunity of learning more of tho
fate of its heroine. The work before us is charac-
teristic of its composer in many a truthful record of
home life, and in many a thoughtful passage. It
cannot be compared to some of those brilliant fic-
tions which have preceded it, but as it is, in its sim-
plicity and grace, it is well calculated to impress
the reader. Lucy Crofton, the heroine, is a most
repulsive character, which in itself is some sort of
novelty from the fascinating persons who are often
introduced as the most prominent actors on the
stage. Luey is one of those disagreeable individuals
whom all must have encountered at intervals in their
intercourse with the world. She did not commit
any open offence, but she nevertheless irritated one
beyond endurance. She was always the same, un-
ruffled and plausible, but one had far rather that
she had done some definite injury that could be
preferred against her, than be for ever annoying in
that indescribable manner. It is eminently satis-
factory to know that she was at last induced by
self-interest to leave the happy home at Hilfont over
which her presence cast a blight from the first day on
which she entered its domains. Clara Nugent of
Estcourt is a delightful person, rather sentimental
at times, owing to her life of seclusion, but ever
alive to the claims of others on her bounty, and
ever zealous to further the best interests of all who
were in any way connected with her. Bertie
Nugent is a straightforward young man, whom it
is sad to see attracted by the deceitful Lucy. The
success of this lady in her designs on Plantagenet
Hall is only natural when her energy
and dexte-
rity are taken into consideration. The passage
which relates the discovery by her aunt of the
shameful trick practised on the entire family by
the unknown lovers is a very exciting one, and the
conduct of Dervent is just what i 8 probable under
the circumstances, he thinking himself remarkably
wise in his own perceptions, and believing his wife
to be prejudiced. Before this final escapade Lucy
had created great disturbance in the house by being
nearly the agent in breaking off the marriage of
Hugh Sedgwick with the gentle Clara Harley.
He was a member of Parliament and a distin-
guished man in his county, while she was only a
school girl. However, no one had a right to
interfere with them, still less Lucy, who
was secretly engaged to Broom at the time.
Fortunately for their welfare Clara had the
courage to speak boldly in vindication of her in-
jured dignity, and Sedgpickpossessed the justice to
rectify his mistake. ?here are many characters
introduced in these pads
who form a sort of back-
ground to the chief perbne; and the chronicles of the
Christmas festivities,}resent a bright and attractive
picture of home life, Wth its minute cares and simple
joys, nothing in themselves, yet
contain within they
the happiness or misery of a
that seem
is a work of fiction that,
lifetime. " Lucy Lofton"
without making a 7- pretensions, has a fair chance
of success, from Its truthful pictures, its earnest
tone, and its pleating delineations. It is written
by one who has lotg
been a favourite with a numer-
and who may lay claim to
ous class of readers
having impress] them more successfully than
many authors
authors
tvho are greatly her superiors in
point of literal_ ability. The effect of a simple
style that is Of result of a feeling heart is always
effective in galling the approbation of those who
j are the best qges, and to the ranks of those who
charm with anadorned eloquence, this authoress
belongs.