The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-25 00:00:00

rHE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING,

decision on the subject, to an able brochure of
Mr. G. L. HUTCHINSON, who has clearly and dis-
tinctly explained the injustice and impoliey of the
existing system. That gentleman's cogent rea-
soning has never been and never can be answered.
He shows the nature and extent of the prevailing
evils, and also the suitable remedies. If adopted,
there would be a considerable saving of expense
to the entire nation. The enormous costs occa-
sioned by parochial litigation, and the heavy ex-
penses attendant on removals, would be efficiently
relieved, while there would be fewer demands, as
every " shuttlecock pauper" could carry his labour
to the best market, where the supply and demand
were better proportioned. But there is one great
impediment to obtaining these great desiderata.
There are wealthy and ingential parties interested
in keeping up the inequitable and unwise prac-
tice. Great landlords, who, holding entire parishes
or districts in their own hands, can prevent the
labourers, whose services they require, from ob-
taining position within the charmed circle. It
is obvious, however, that the same number of
perscus must still be relieved, and in the most
costly and expensive form. And we simply
ask why should wealthy and influential parties be
enabled to transfer the burdens from their own
shoulders to those less able *to sustain them ?
why should the poorest rate-payers be compelled
pay the highest rates ?—which is almost in-
variably the case.

The first attention therefore should bo to
equalise the rates, not merely for the metropolis,
but for the entire kingdom. It would practically
amount to the same point, so far as met ropoli tan pay-
ments were concerned. With judicious administra-
tion and the complete abolition of the iniquitous law
of Settlement, we believe that little more than ls.
in the pound would be required throughout the
entire country, and that would be reduced to 6d.
if personal property was made liable for its fair
proportion. Much required sanitary ameliorations
might then be carried out, without obstructions
that at present are frequently insurmountable, and
St. Georges, Hanover-square, and St. James's,
Westminster, might be - improved without any
addition to the already overwhelming burdens of
Bermondsey or Bethnal-green.
We believe that no opposition will be offered
to the stringent investigation now demanded. Let
it, however, not be limited to a single district,
but general in its operation, and thus will effectual
relief be obtained for the entire kingdom, and a
serious reproach be removed from the national
escutcheon.

The attention of the representative branch of the
Legislature was on Friday evening very properly
directed to a serious outlay incurred, not only
without the sanction of Parliament, but even
without its opinion being in any degree asked on
the subject. " The German Legionaries," who
never saw a shot fired in anger, were indeed highly
favoured, having been treated with far greater
liberality and generosity than our own gallant
countrymen who had borne the brunt of the war
and freely sustained heavy labours, and incurred
formidable risks, for the safety, honour, and wel-
fare of our Sovereign Lady the QUEEN and her
dominions. But, unfortunately, neither JACK,
SANDY, nor PAT had friends at Court, they had no
backstairs influence working in their favour. It is
true that they had, or with due encouragement
might have had, English, Scotch, or Irish wives
or sweethearts, willing to share their fortunes in
the distant land of promise, and to keep up the
remembrance of Fair Albion, Green Erin, or
Bonnie Scotland in their border homes, aye,
and their allegiance to the SOVZILEIGN of the
United Kingdom. In place of that, a body were
selected who participated in the wide-spread doc-
trine of Germanism, that "England was only to
be valued for her money," who would greedily
take what they could get, and give as little
as possible in return. But German hus-
bands for high and low was the prevailing
mania ; and why should not our own dear lassies
fallow in the fashion, about to be set by " the
daughter of England?"
It was originally intended that the whole Legion,
some 8,000 in number, should profit by the offer.
The expense thus undertaken without the sanc-
tion of Parliament would therefore have amounted,
at an average of 1001. for each military emigrant
—a by no means extravagant estimate —to
800,000/. sterling, and on this the quasi guar-
dians of the national purse were not allowed
to say a single word. There was the sic solo
sic jubeo of the secret and irresponsible
Premier's War Secretary and Chancellor of the
I Exchequer, and the nominal holders of these im-
portant offices were only to carry out the orders
they received, and to tell the House and the
Country that it was their duty to vote, and to
piy the sums which princely liberality had be-
stowed on German recipients..

As to the notion that these Germans will act
as an efficient protection against Caffre aggression,
we must be permitted to retain the doubts to which
we long since, on the first mention of the project,
gave expression—" Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
Who shall guard against these very guards them-
selves? It seems to us that they will be far more
likely to fraternise with the discontented boers, and
should they again take int) their heads to rise
against British supremacy, they would be more
likely to obtain effectual assistance than serious
opposition from those very • dear legionaries, who
have cost 1001. per man to send to the spot.
As to the Caffres, we believe, that the Germans
even if well disposed would be by no means
so efficient. We should far rather rely on
the mingled dash and prudence of our own
countrymen. The Caffres are a restless body,
and they should be met with their own weapons.
If they steal the cattle of the colonists there
should be ample reprisals. For each head stolen
there should be two at least taken in return, and
the suggestion that a Caffre corps should be
formed, which fell from Colonel SYKES, is well
worthy of consideration. The colony should learn
to defend itself, and with suitable means. Proper
reprisals would be the best mode, and let not any
spurious philanthropy interfere therewith. we
believe that the Cape authorities, if taught that
they should set their own shoulders to the wheel,
in place of praying to the British Hercules, would
take better care of their own interests, that there
would be far less suffering, while we would be
spared the periodical demands for some two or
three millions every two or three years, to be
levied from the already over-taxed inhabitants of
the United Kingdom. At all events, what
has been done with respect to the German
Legion was not the best or most constitutional
mode of remedying the evil. And the British
Parliament should unequivocally resist every
similar invasion of its unquestionable prerogative,
which may suit German notions, but are by no
means calculated for the meridian of the Imperial
Palace at Westminster.

"M. Aaguste Thurneyssen, director of the Cada
Mobilier, and his sons," says the Debate, "are in no
way connected in the affairs of M. Charles Thurneyssen,
except as creditors for a very important amount."—The
bankrupt, it is believed, hay left for America, and taken
with him two of his children, leavJig the other two with
his wife at Paris. His extradition is to be demanded.
His flight continues to create an immense sensation at
the Bourse.

LATEST NEWS.

The Moniteur de la Flotte announces that the
East India Company have taken possession of the
island of Perim, at the entrance of the Red Sea,
and which is in the middle of the Strait of Babel-
miandel. The British flag was hoisted there on the
14th of February by the Company's troops, and
the occupation is definitive. The following is the
ca►ise assigned :—Two years since an English ship,
which was shipwrecked on the coast of Brbera,
was pillaged by the natives. The East India Com-
pany having applied to the chiefs of the Saumalis
for satisfaction, they showed every disposition to do
so, but all their efforts were unavailing. They
were summoned to Aden to discuss the matter with
the Resident, and, as it was proved that they were
unable to defend ships from pirates, a treaty was
concluded, containing a clause by which it is stated
that the Company will occupy the island of Perim,
and place a garrison there to protect ships navi-
gating that sea. The island of Perim, which
was first occupied in 1784, is situated between
Arabia and Africa, on the very point at which the
Red Sea commences, and it divides the strait into

two channels. The passage to the east, on the side
of Arabia, is only 3 miles wide; that to the west, on
the African side, is about 10 or 12. On the south-
west, towards the widest entrance to the straits,
the island forms one of the finest ports imaginable.
It is a mile in length and half a mile in breadth,
and the depth varies from 7to 25 fathoms. The
anchorage is excellent, the entrance is perfectly
sheltered, and it is no exaggeration to say that 40
ships of the line might easily anchor there in smooth
water 100 yards from the shore. A few ships of war
stationed there will be sufficientherrnetically to close
the entrance to the Red Sea. Aden is placed in a
position much less favourable, for that port is 100
miles from the strait, and the reason it was chosen,
20 years since, was that, although it posses,es few
resources, it has more than the island of Perim.
There is water to be had at Aden by means of cis-
terns, and there are seasons of the year when the
aqueducts can receive the torrents which flow from
the neighbouring hills. The island of Perim, on
the contrary, is absolutely devoid of everything ; it
has not a drop of water ; its sandy and volcanic
soil produces only some stunted and dusty briars.
It is uninhabited, and everything must be brought
from without. It would appear from a first view to
be a position little desirable, but, on consideration,
it is easy to understand why the Company has made
this acquisition, and why the British Government
attaches so much importance to it. It is now clear,
when the Isthmus of Suez is about to be opened,
that the Red Sea cannot fail to become the great
commercial road between Europe and Asia. It is
not necessary to erect any fortifications on the
island of Perim. Aden is sufficiently near to
supply all that may be required. But Aden, strong
as it is, does not absolutely command the strait, and
the largest fleets might pass without danger be-
tween Aden and the coast of Africa. On the other
hand, nothing can pass the island of Perim without
the permission of those who are its masters. A
detachment of artillery of the Indian army has
been stationed there provisionally. A temporar y
arsenal and fortifications have been erected, and
supplies of all description have been brought from
Aden for the garrison which is to occupy that de-
;
, solate station.

FRANCE.
PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING.

The Grand Duke Constantine has definitively bid
farewell to Paris, and Prince Napoleon has re-
turned. The Moniteur of to-day informs the
public of the latter fact. Whether the Prince
feels regret at not havingshared in the "humours"
of Villeneuve l'Etang or the festivities of Fon-
tainebleau is more than I know. What is certain
is, that soon after the Grand Duke left the Prince
returned.

The Journal des Debats announces that the rati-
fication of the treaty of peace between Great
Britain and Persia has arrived at Constantinople,
and contrary to the assertion of the I% ord, of
Brussels, it contains no reservation.
All the visitors at the Palace of Fontainebleau
took leave of the Emperor and Empress yesterday.
Their Majesties received, during the afternoon,
the different public bodies of the town of Fontaine-
bleau, together with the officers of the garrison.
The Emperor and Empress will arrive at the
Tuileries this afternoon.

The great bodies of the State, together with the
functionaries pre3ente t at previous receptions, will
be received by the Emperor at 9 o'clock to-morrow
afternoon.

BOURSE, May 23.—The market rallied towards
the close, when the following were the last quo-
tations :

Cash. fr. C. End of Month.
4i per Cents
3 per Cents 6B 85 91 80
Bank Shares 4,475 .

6;editMobilier
1,2601,2 ARotimstarins:.
Do. Adcount

Belgian 44
Piedmontese (5) 9O 25 Home Debt

891
914
424

RAILWAYS—FOR CASH.
fr. c. fr c.
Orleans 1,465 Western -
Northern
Lyons 1,4774 New Ditto
Mediterranean 1,890 Grand Central 1—
Geneva
Midi

MAY 25, I 8 5 7
---,-
THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

FOURTH NOTICE.
The Portraits exhibited this year in the Royal
Academy Collection, without being, as we have
said, in any instance very remarkable, are gene-
rally speaking, more than usualiy meritorious. We
have scarcely anything left now of the weet Tas of
that abominable " Gentleman" who has smirked
at the public so long, season er season, under
the shade of an almost impossible Pillar (consider-
ing that be was obviously either Styles or Stokes,
certainly not by any means either Caesar or Nii,po-
leon) and that highly improbable Red Curtain—that
looked as much out of place as Red Curtains would
look "floppingand snapping" in the raw air between
the columns of the Portico of St. Martin's-in-the-
Fields 1 Photography—there is no mistake about
it---.-has given the portrait painters a stet) in ad-
vance as to the probabilities, and therefore as to
the vraisemblance ; this step in advance being
principally observable among tue mediocrities. Not
by any means a mediocrity is the gifted French
Painter, E. Boutibonne who, last season, won the
admiration of the discerning by his exquisite
miniature equestrian portraits of the Emperor Na-
poleon 111. and the Empress Eugenie—Pictures
announced as " the property of her Majesty the
Queen" in . the 1856 Catalogue. Here in
Nos. 15 and 24 are two admirable companion
paintings from the same hand, of the same size, in
the same style : miniature equestrian portraits of
"Her Majesty the Queen" and " 8..R.H. Prince
Albert," The last-mentioned very recently the sub-.
ject in Punch of a cruel little caricature—"
a Field-Marshal evidently ! Wonder in what ter
rible engagement 1" Notwithstanding the horribly
ridiculous appropriateness of the sarcasm—a charm-
ing work of art, nevertheless. An admirable like-
ness of a handsome face—the whole picture full of
animation. The portrait of the Queen, too, is ex-
quisite. One of the most agreeable we have
ever yet witnessed. In No. 51. will be at once
recognised by the thousands who know his
features familiarly by this time one of the first and
foremost among all living geologists, " Sir Roderick
Impey Murchison." Grant's life-like
.portraiture
of " The Marquis of Lansdowne" (No. 70) will be
perused with interest by the numerous admirers of
that Nestor of his Party. Close beside this is
Hart's representation of (No. 71) " The Rev. Dr.
Adler, the Chief Rabbi"—our only marvel on
glancing at which is that a Chief Rabbi, and parti-
cularly one with a visage so smugly and smouchely
Hebraic, should ever dream of shaving. Knight's
portrait of " Sir Charles Eastlake," No. SO, would
be a more satisfactory memento of the President (the
catalogue mentions that it is "presented to the Royal
Academy" by the artist) did it not give one a -very
strong notion indeed that Sir Charles Eastlake had
been crying bitterly before he gave Mr. Knight a
sitting. Sir J. W. Gordon's magic brush has de-
picted in No. 137, "George Combe, author of
The Constitution of Mau '—a head worthy of
containing the brains of a Great Phrenologist !
An-ither admirable p:ltrait from the same master-
hand is that of " John Blackwood," No. 546
—with a copy of dear old Maga at his
elbow. A very young looking embodiment
truly of every one's ideal of Blackwood. Yet
—wonderful though it may seem to the
uninitiated—the wielder, nevertheless, of that staff
of Might and sceptre of Power, the crutch of King
Christopher ! Yonder, again, in No. 159, by Eddis,
is the mild, wise, benignant, patriarchal head of
"His Excellency George Dallas, the American Am-
bassador"—resembling somewhat a blending of the
visage of Mr. Fox, late M. P. for Oldham, and Old
Benjamin Franklin. Yonder, in No. 179, by Mrs.
Carpenter, "Sir Henry Ellis," the predece,sor of
Mr. Panizzi, as the British Museum Librarian.
There, in No. 224, by Richmond, is "Vice-Chan-
cellor Kindersley," in full fig, and looking grandly
judicial and yet, somehow, at the same time,
waggishly handsome too. Grant has several fine
portraits according to annual wont in the collec-
tion • among them, this year, No. 452, " Sir James
Scarlett,' the heroic leader of the heavy Cavalry
Charge at Balaklava : the brave-hearted knight to
to whom Lord Raglan sent as his greeting after the
charge those simplethrilling words—" Well Done!"
Horsely, in No. 576, depicts " J. K. Brunnel,"
the Great Engineer. Pickersgill, in No. 585.
" Dr. Lyon Playfair," a sort of a philosophic Mr.
Ledbury—plump, smiling, and spectacled. In No.
625, E. E. Tuson has portrayed a face familiar to
us all, that of Major-General Sir William Fenwick
Williams of Kars —a kind of Professor Anderson,
or Wizard of the North a la militaire. In the
miniature room we come upon a wonderfully cha-
racteristic crayon drawing of the poet-head of 'Syd-
ney Dobelt," author of the " The Roman," and
" Balder," or as it is oddly enough misprinted in
the Academy Catalogue, Bolder ! Various other
notabilities are here delineated—but those we hs.ve
already enumerated may be taken, in both senses
of the term, by way of illustration.

MR. RUSSELL'S LECTURES ON THE WAR,

AT WILLIS'S ROOMS.

-
The celebrated "Times' Correspondent," Mr. William
Russell, of the Crimea, of St. Petersburg, and of we
don't know where else besides, began on Saturday
afternoon a repetition of his Three Lectures on the War.
Beginning, of course, as the saying is, with the be-
ginning. Willis's-rooms, King-street, St. James's, as
upon the previous occasion, formed the scene of his pre-
lection. The audience there assembled together being,
as formerly, at once numerous and fashionable. The
first lecture closed, equally, as a matter of course, with
a description of the First Victory. And although the
delivery of this instalment of the narrative occupied the
principal portion of two hours—between 3 and 5 p.m.—
Mr. Russell contrived, nevertheless, to keep his hearers
amused throughout—frequently moved to laughter b 3
his quaint waggeries, occasionally enthralled into almost
breathless interest by the nervous rush of his energetic
and impassioned declamation. He described succes-
sively, in a few terse but sufficiently explanatory sen-
tences, the dawdling of the allied armies at Va-
letta during the whole of the month of April,
1854 (an April the showers of which " were thunder-
etorms")—at Gallipoli during May—at Varna and
Devna during the three or four months following !
Observing rather wittily in regard to the immense cor-
respondence from the camp—[Lord Raglan writing home
reams of paper never yet brought to light, Marshal St.
Arnaud industrious .y scribbliog to the Eaperer, to the
Minister of War, to his wife, and it would be difficult to
say to how many more, the pen of the Lecturer himself
nut being altogether idle at the same time, as ho slyly
and parenthetically intimated]—that an army led by
stationery runs a very great risk of turning out to be a
stationary army ! Admirably characteristic was the
phrase mentioned as having Wien from the lips of Gene-
, /al (now Marshal) Besquet, when first he witnessed the
English forces tnanceuvring— Vous, vous, etes troupes de
position, Nous, nous, sommes troupes d'activite I That,
indeed, was the precise difference to a nicety. Altoge-
ther, we cannot bet think, however, that the Lecturer
is revealing in these public discourses of his upon the late
Ware truculence of tone when speaking ofourgallan allies
and a sales rviency of manner when addressing a Willis's
Rooms audience about Ourselves—such as few could
ever have anticipated from Mr. Russell, judging him by
his own frank, manly, plain spoken, ever memorable
Correspondence. The allusion made to the personal
appearance of the her3ic and chivalrous Canrobert—
as though that could have anything to do with either
his merits or demerits as a soldier—seemed to us as
paltry as it was indecorous, we had almost said as mean
as it was indecent. The frequent sneers levelled at the
dauntless Hero of the Alma, Marshal St. Arnaud—who
fought that great battle while he was dying—appeared
even more reprehensible. It was very "small" too—
particularly "small" on the part of Mr. Russell—re-
peating again and again (he seemed to be never tired of
the spiteful repetition) that the French right attack of
the Alma was "supported by the allied ships of war !"
Better than those ungenerous portions of his narrative,
were those (simply because of their coming more
obviously within the range of Good Taste) in which he
illustrated the prowess of the English according to the
testimony of his own experience of it, as an actual eye
witness, and sometimes as earcvitness. Capital was that
voice from the Ranks, that called out (evidently with a
' brogue)—When Marshal St. Arnaud pausing in front of
the British Army, before the battle of the Alma com-
menced, said " English, I hope you will fight well to-
day !" Capital, we say, was that Voice from the Ranks
that called out almost indignantly—" Sure you know
we will!" It was quite as characteristic of his own
country when the Lecturer spoke of thesoldiery as "de-
voured by thirst," by the time they arrived at the little
stream of the Bulganak. Several of his word-pictures
were really wonderful. Wonderful either for their
hnmourous extravagance—as when he described his
Italian servant Angelo, as a person endowed with the
extraordinary capacity of becoming invisible whenever
he was wanted ! Or wonderful, for the vivid-
ness of the descriptive powor they displayed. This
being evidenced even in mere casual phrases—as when
he spoke of the dump of the cannon-ball into the ground,
of the scream of the shell, or of the shrill shout of the
rocket ! Happiest, however, of all his descriptions, the
most eloquent, the most impassioned, the most inspirit-
ing, was his spoken record of that grand struggle up the
heights of the Alma—first of the gallant Light Division,
and afterwards of the glorious Guards and Highlanders.
The memorable Feat of Arms was described ,by Mr.
Russell, in every sense of the term, to admiration !

GEORGE GRIIIKBRANK has just Cut a " Slice of
Bread and Butter" which anybody who likes to do so
may at once have the pleasure of devouring. We our.
selves have found it very relishing, taken just with the
fast little pinch of salt, or, in other word, cum grand
sa/i.s. It is—to be plain—in 16 pages with 3 very
Cruikshankian woodcut illustrations—" The SsbAance
of a Speech delivered at a public meeting, held for
the benefit of the Jews and the General Literary and
Mechanics' Institution." An argument full of earnest
home truth!, and of the kindliest feeling for the unfor-
tunate. It is a plea at once for the temperance system,
for the ragged schools, an,l for the ro,.rnaatore..
SEAMEN'd 1108P1TAL bEIP DREADNuUGHT.—NIItuber
of admi,sions last week, 38 ; out-patients ditto, 26.
Total, 64,