The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-13 00:00:00

Administration has undoubtedly gained for itself
in regard to its Budget a certain visible and compre-
hensibleprestige by reason of that signal advantage
gained by it over a resolute and daring Opposition.
And so far there is in one sense an advance made
by Ministers in the Financial Arrangements. But
—only so far : not one jot further.
To-night comes " the tug of war" coute qui
coute—and upon the course taken to-night
by the House of Commons will depend the success
of Mr. GLADSTONE'S Budget, and through that the
triumph and continuance of the PALMERSTON
Government. The resolutions have passed through
the Committee of Ways and Means ; they have
been embodied in a Bill—that Bill has been
printed and read a first time—to-night it comes on
for the second reading. It rests with the House
of Commons to decide very simply—Have we not
had already Eomething too much of this ? Shall
we just for once, and for all, Have Done with
a discussion which, unless summarily put an
end to thus, threatens, in a manner, to become
interminable ? We have decided upon having an
income tax this year of Ninepence. We have
rejected the proposition to diminish the war tax
of ls. 5d in the lb. upon tea, in preference to the
abolition, altogether, of the Excise and Customs
duties hitherto levied upon paper. our Financier tells
us plainly that he has an odd million or so even then
to spare—that if we remit very nearly one million he
will still, at the end of the financial year, accord-
ing to what he himself regards (and he is perfectly
alive, we may be sure of that, to his own personal
and ministerial responsibility), he assures us, we say
that even if we remit very nearly a million of
money, as he asks us to remit it' he will yet
have a balance in his favour amounting, as
nearly as can be calculated, to £400,000 ster-
ling ! Shall we, the House of Commons—
having settled the Income tax for the current
year at Ninepence, having decided upon the con-
tinuance of the war taxes upon Tea and Sugar—
shall we, under these circumstances, refuse to
abolish the impost our own financier asks to
abolish, namely, the duty upon paper; shall we, in
other words, give him more money than he assures
us he shall require ? And all this because the
abolition of the tax he proposes to get rid of has
been loudly advocated by a popular member, whose
very popularity has called down upon him from the
creme de la creme the invidious designation of De-
magogue? That, we take it, is really about the
English of it after all. That, we cannot but think,
is the argument the members of the House of Com
mons generally will to-day have put to themselves.
The decision they will arrive at in consequence, we
shall not have long to wait for.

The accounts from America which arrived this
morning are, we think, more important than they
appear at first sight—and their importance is on
the right side. The South appears to be somewhat
cowed. Prompt and desperate counsels are its
hope. Delay exposes its weakness both in argu-
ment and in physical force ; hence the haste to make
sure of secession before the vigour of a LINCOLN
should supersede the tacit aid of a BUCHANAN.
Hence the attempts to provoke the North to the
first attack, culminating in the capture of Fort
Sumpter. Hence also the wish, and we have no
doubt whatever, the plotting too, to seize the capital
itself. The South has been first and forward in
everything, and has thus endeavoured by energy and
rapidity of action to make up for what it wanted in
military strength and resources. It was also its
object to demonstrate to the Border Slave States
that it would be for their interest to join the con-
federation which was fighting successfully for

slavery.
By the Niagara we learn, however, that this for-
ward zeal is obliged to cry halt. The capital, first
and chiefly, situated in a Slave State, Maryland, is
placed in safety, and its communications with the
half of the Union, of which it is the real capital, are
now perfectly open. Maryland herself has voted
for keeping in the Union by a majority of thirty-
eight. The brutal mob of Baltimore are no longer
triumphant, and the Federal flag flies on the Custom
House of the city. The Federal troops, whether
Maryland wished or not, determined to use her ter-
ritory as legitimately belonging to the Union, but
it is clear that the respectable portion of the corn-
the oovernor himself, always
saw that it was for the interest of Maryland not to
secede. Not more than one-seventh of her popula-
tion are slaves, and these were running off fast to
the North ; the course of prudence on her part
therefore could not be doubtful. But the strategic
gain to Mr. LINCOLN and the North is very great.
It clears the line of defence for him up to the
capital and the river Potomac, and Virginia on the
other side of the river becomes the first State in open
and armed rebellion.

We judge by these last accounts also, that Vir-
ginia does not like this position. By the last advice's
a considerable Southern force was reported to be at
her capital, Richmond, and JEFFERSON DAVIS to
be there himself contemplating a coup de main on
Washington. Now, we are informed, that the
Governor of Virginia orders " all military compa-
nies to remain at their homes until ordered out by
the competent authorities." Also that he has
notified the President that he would allow no con-
federate troops to pass through Virginia for tha in-
vasion of Washington. Either this must be re-
garded as a magnanimous offer to prevent what
could now be of no use to the Southerns, the city
being too well protected to fear them, or as a de-
vice to lull suspicion at the North. It is most likely
the former, the Virginians being desirous to save
their brethren a useless humiliation, and moreover
to take care of themselves; President LINCOLN
having given them an intimation that if they
allowed any movements of Confederate troops north
of Richmond their capital, he should attack Rich-
mond and the port of Norfolk. The Virginians
accordingly show that they have no wish to see
their State become the first theatre of war. Yet
thisl would certainly result from its proximity to
v
ashingtou, and from Maryland having, through
fear of the
same contingency, thrown herself upon
the old Union.

Both North and South the arming continues vigo-
rously, and Tennessee i
is said to have passed a seces-
sion ordinance. But, the facts we have mentioned
look as if the South Was
somewhat cowed at the
sight of an aroused North. President DAVIS, in
a message, declares that " the South will resist
subjugation to the direst extremity," which is pro-
bably true enough. Still the South in Virginia
practically beats a retreat; while LINCOLN moves
southward by declaring a blockade of the ports of
North
,Carolina and
Virginia. The South, we
know, long cherished the notion that the North, " a
set of shopkeepers, mechanics, manufacturers, and
f
armee; would never fight the "Southern chivalry."
They are pretty much undeceived now by the en-
thusiastic responsemust
• •
to Mr, LINCOLN'S mild beginproclama-
tion; to see that for eight millions of
whites, with four millions of slaves on their
backs, to fight ninetee
n millions of freemen,
with all the resources of long prosperity
to support them, will be a h 1
ope esti attempt.
The possibility of any attack from the Se,uth seems
now, therefore, to have vanished. The South will
only endeavour to defend its own. IQ their lagf.

peopled country of swamps and forests this, in a
military sense, will be easy. But the South is not
self-competent. It does not grow enough food for
itself, and it imports almost everything else. A
blockade of its ports will tell fearfully on
its pecuniary resources, on its comforts, and
on its means of subsistence itself. If it gets
over a year or two of rebellion it may
become self-supporting, in a miserable way however,
but it must suffer severely if the United States
Navy can do its work. Whether any of the border
Slave States will be provoked to attack the Northern
border States or vice versa, remains to be seen.
We should not think it likely. Ohio is doubly as
strong as Kentucky, and Missouri would more than
find her match in the West. We may, therefore,
on the whole, rather hope now for an armed truce
for a while, and possibly the dreaded general colli-
sion may even never come. This, however, is like
hoping against hope.

At the Mansion House Lord Ei.oni pointed out
the advantages which lie felt pretty confident would
result from our having an embassy at Pekin. He
illustrated it by what had just occurred in Japan in
many respects so similar. After the murder of the
American, the Foreign authorities withdrew from
the capital, and retired to a point where they could
have the protection of the guns of a British ship.
The Court took fright immediately, and entreated
them to return, promising redress and protection.
The probability of a war with the European powers
was brought home to their fears by the mere retreat
of the Consul. Lord ELGIN predicts a similar
result from having an Ambassador at Pekin.
The Court and the Ministers will then
know our views, and appreciate our intentions by
direct communication with us; and he has a strong
belief that this direct intercourse, superseding the
deceptive and deluding representations received at
the capital, through local governors, will be an
effective means of preventing future wars.
This far Lord ELGIN appears to have judged
quite rightly. Instead of the predicted impossibi-
lity of maintaining a resident ambassador at Pekin;
instead of its being, as we were told, a point on
which the Chinese would fight rather than sub-
mit, they appear, not only submissively and by
coercion, but with good will, to have entered into
the new arrangement. They have gone so far as to
create a Board of Foreign Affairs at Pekin
The foreign ambassadors are to have a branch
of the administration specially constituted for their
convenience; a Chinese Foreign-office, in fact, in
compliment to the now acknowledged foreign Re-
thlent Representatives.
There is little doubt that ignorance, as well as
the pride of old traditions, was one of the chief
reasons which made the Chinese authorities so in-
different to trading with foreigners. While our
soldiers were yet at Pekin, the vast customs' re-
venue which had been faithfully secured by the
foreigners at Shanghae, and accounted for to the
Imperial Government, struck Prince KUNG with
astonishment. He was evidently not aware of it.
And we may be quite sure that the less
intelligent members of the Royal circle were
equally ignorant. Now they see what may be
made of us, and perhaps see that a foreigner is a
safer tax-collector than a local Mandarin ; they
appear actually, and, of course, quite spontaneously,
to have pressed on Mr. LAY the collection of the
entire foreign customs, and to have invested him
with the fullest powers for doing it ! What a mar-
vellous revolution does all this imply in Chinese
views of foreigners. A revolution of opinion
which gives we hope the best of guarantees, that
no more Chinese wars will upset the Budget cal-
culations of our English Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, and almost create a war in England
between the Commons and the Lords.

The voyage up the Yang-tse appears also to
have been quite successful. The vast emporium
of Hang-kow was reached with ease, and the
Tae-pings were found, as might be expected, even
more amicably disposed towards us than the Impe-
rialists had ever been, till we first thrashed them
and then paid them their dues. The Tae-pings,
however, from their religious views, look on the
Christian nations as brethren, though at first they
thought the Catholics idolators, to whom, like Jews
and Mahommedans, they could show no mercy, they
being very earnest Iconoclasts. The destruction of
many places is quite falsely laid to their charge.
It has been the defeated Imperialists who have de-
stroyed
,the greater part of the cities when driven
out of them. Both Imperialists and Tae-pings are
now become anxious to trade with us, and it may
be hoped we shall never be guilty of the crime and
folly of taking part directly or indirectly with
either party. Neither, now, will molest us. Both
prefer to get rather what they can by traffic with
us ; and as military revolution is the only form of
party contest in Chins, the only way of obtaining
redress of grievances—we have no more right to
interfere, than Chinese would have to interfere
with our party battle on the Budget. If foreigners
in China behave as they ought, they have the pro-
spect before them of a splendid trade.

Their Excellencies the Austrian Ambassador and
the Countess d'Apponyi entertained a distinguished party
at dinner on Saturday evening, at Chandos House. The
countess received company after dinner.
The Earl and Countess Vane have arrived in
town. His lordship has taken a residence in Prince's-gate
for the season.

Lord and Lady Camoys and family have arrived
in town from Stonor Park for the season.
Sir Victor Brooke has arrived at the Brunswick,
Jermyn-street, on a visit to General and Mrs. Basil Brooke.
The Hon. H. P. Stanley Monck and Mr. West have also
arrived at the same establishment.

Count and Countess Baptiste Metaxa and family
have arrived at the Hyde-park Hotel for the season.

Sir Philip and Lady Pauncefort Duncombe have
arrived at 4, Connaught place.

Lady Llanover left London last week for South
Wales. Her ladyship will not return to town until after
the Whitsuntide holidays.
Their Excellencies Baron and Baroness Brunow
entertained at dinner on Saturday night, at Chesham-
house, his Excellency the Persian Ambassadir, Mirsa
Djaffer Khan, who was accompanied by Mirma Hafsan
Khan and Mahomed Aly Aga.
ARRIVAL OF THE SALAMANCA TROOP SHIP.—
The transport Salamanca, Captain Livesey, belonging to
Messrs. Dunbar, arrived this morning in the Charanel, with
200 rank and file, in charge of Captain Yenables, 97th;
Lieut. Graham, 6th ; Fisher, 82d, and Dr. Thistleton.
Also Lieut. Lampen, 34th, and Messrs. White and Blunt.
One cabin passenger jumped overboard, and was drowned.
BAZAAR IN AID OF DESTITUE CIIILDREN.—The
leading members of the Roman Catholic body are about to
appeal to the charitable of all classes in aid of an object
which cannot fail to excite the sympathy of every right-
minded person—the support and education of destitute
Catholic children in London. A bazaar, at the St. James's-
hall, is the mode which has been adopted by the activeleaders
in this most praiseworthy mover', ent for the collection of funds
and the days on which it will take place are Tuesday, Wednes-
day, and Thursday next. There is scarcely an eminent name
connected with the leading Roman Catholic famil:e3which is
not to be found on the list of patrons and patronesses, and the
stalls will be presided over by many disiinguished mem-
bers of that body. Among ethers way be mentioned her
Excellency the Countess Apponyi, the Marchioness of
Lothian, the Countess of Newburgh, the Lady Georgiana
Fullerton, the Viscountess Bury, the Viscountess Castle-
o
e,n.
the Lady Camoys, the Lady Petre, the Lady Dormer,
h
Airs. Scott Murray, Mrs. Washington Hibbert,
Mrs. John Townley, and the " Enfants de Marie," embrac-
ing the daughters of many Catholic gentlemen resident in
or near Loudon. The bazaar will be unusually well fur-
nished, almost all the crowned heads of Europe having for-
warded contributions on the part of themselves and their
families. The doors be will open to the public at 2 Veleck
ou Wliesday, and at noon on the felleWillg days,