The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-12 00:00:00

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L T 0.1 a N E

be outdone in the poT2l'of repression and suppzws-

than doubled since 1851." In testimony of
the accuracy of which computation, we are
then told distinctly from the official re-
turn that, "in that year," that is in 1851,
the year of the Great Exhibition in Hyde-
Park "there were 85,000,000 journeys performed;
last year there were 177,000,000." It being further
added that, " while in 1851 the railways could only
bring and take away from London 40,000 visitors
daily, it is now computed that they are equal to
a passenger traffic to and from the metropolis of
not less than 140,000 daily." Wherefore, it is
argaed—we cannot think very extravagantly—" It
is not unreasonable to suppose then, that, with the
great inducements that will be held out by railway
companies in the way of cheap excursion trains
and long return tickets, the number of visitors
from the country will be nearly doubled this time,
and that, instead of 3,000,000, as in 1851, we may
not improbably get 6,000,000 next year." Certainly
a very encouraging look-out for the whole trading
population of London and Westminster ! To say
nothing whatever of the good news implied by all this
for the pleasure seekers—whether belonging to the
Million or to the Upper Ten Thousand.
Reverting, however, to the remark intimated at the
outset of these observations,we would explain simply
that the tantalising effect referred to has relation to
the remembrance of the proposal at one time put
forth, at the original inauguration of the Railway
System of the United Kingdom—to the end that an
impost should have been put by the Legislature, at
the instance of the Government, for the benefit of
the Imperial Treasury—a tax that is of so much
upon every railway traveller. Then, again, this
proposition seemed to have been listened to,
and formally adopted, first of all, by the
then Administration, and afterwards embodied
in a substantial statute of the realm by the then
Parliament. Imagine a few pence, a sixpence, a
shilling, paid into the Treasury now annually for
every one of those 177,000,000 railway travellers !
And imagine, moreover, this source of revenue
showing also a steady increase upon every succes-
sive year of fully 10,000,000 ! Surely we may
with reason say, that it makes one's mouth water,
as it were, merely to think of it ! Particularly
remembering the war imposts still maintained
upon tea and upon sugar. But still more, and
beyond all, bearing in mind that Demon Tax,
the Old Man of the Sea to the Political Sindbad,
the deplorable and heart-worrying Income Tax !
Before quitting this theme incidentally thrust
upon our regard in connection with the ap-
proaching International Exhibition at South
Kensington, it is difficult not to comment with
particular satisfaction, no matter how briefly,
upon the rapid advance towards completion of the
works connected with the gigantic building des-
tined to contain it. Everything connected with
those works, it is gratifying to know, may already
be found by the visitor to be in a most satisfac-
tory state of forwardness—everything, saving and
excepting only the huge domes, half of glass,
half of iron. Nor can that exception be very
much wondered at, learning, as we do, upon com-
petent authority, that "never were so many awk-
wardly shaped pieces of ironwork designed to fit
into one erection :" that " it is, in fact, like put-
ting together a colossal puzzle, each of the com-
ponent parts of which averages three tons in
weight, and has to be bolted into its place at a
height of 200 feet from the ground." Even with
these difficulties remaining before us—yet to be
overcome—the works are visibly so far advanced
already that not one instant's further anxiety can
be seriously entertained as to whether the whole
of these colossal labours can be completed in every
minute particular long before Thursday, the let
of May, 1862, the day fixed for the solemn inaugu-
ration of the Exhibition by her MAJESTY.

1, zncl opposition to concession.

The CZAR seemed at one time likely to become
somewhat of an idol with English Tories, and even
to gain the smiles of English Liberals. He suc-
ceeded in issuing his decree abolishing serfdom, in
the teeth of a nobility almost ready to assassinate
him. He has, it is said, been personally favourable
to the University and Education, and last of all he
has created a responsible Ministry, indicating an
intention to bring Russian Government near to the
lowest level of modern civilization. Can such a
Prince be anything but a real Liberal, though born
a despot ? Will he not do as much as the length
of his reign will permit for the political liberties
and the social advancement of his people ? Un-
happily, the Liberal CZAR is King of Poland also,
and he rules there by even a worse right than
Austria does in Venetia. He has not at least ful-
filled the engagements into which his predecessor
entered at Vienna in 1815, and his government
of Poland from St. Petersburg is a defiance
of his obligations to Europe. The events
of the spring are yet fresh in our me-
mory—the peaceful urgency of the people, the
treacherous plots of the Government, and the
murder of the unarmed by the soldiers. To all
this has now followed civil vengeance. The CZAR
is Pope of the Greek Church—in its actual con-
dition one of the most unenlightened, superstitious,
and servile Churches in Christendom. Popery in
Spain and Naples cannot surpass in superstitious
beliefs and practices the Church of the CZARS.
In Poland, by dint of cruel persecutions, Pro-
testantism was almost extirpated, and Roman
Catholicism took its place; and now, as in the
Austrian dominions, where it was established in
like manner, Roman Catholicism is the general
creed.

The Catholic Priests, however, as in other
countries where their religion is not the domi-
nant one, side with the people, and defy the
ruling powers. Hence the Czar-Pope of all the
Russias, and the clergy of Poland, have been
in constant collision, and the Popery of the Poles
is in opposition to absolutism, and is held to all the
more firmly as a national distinction from the Greek
Church of Russia. This is the reason of the insults
offered to the Cathedral by the Roman soldiery, of
its being closed in resentment of the desecration by
the Archbishop, and of the wrath of the CZAR at
measures which so excite the people against his
Government as the assailant of their religion. The
churches, our readers may have observed, have been
very much used as the means of national demon-
strations, by services, hymns, and other means.
Hence, we read in one communication that—" In
the Government of Radow, to cite a fresh instance,
the governor has enjoined the authorities of the
districts to proceed with the utmost rigour against
all priests, organists, and sextons of the churches in
which any national emblems are preserved, and in
which there still exist crucifixes and banners bear-
ing the arms of Poland—the white eagle or the
Lithuanian horseman. The order extends to ceme-
teries as well as churches. Tombstones are to be
carefully examined, and defaced or removed ifneces-
sary. The crosses erected in honour of the victims
of February at Warsaw are to be taken away.
The execution of these orders is sometimes resisted,
but if the clergy do not voluntarily carry them
into execution, the priests are to be arrested and
sent to the citadel of Warsaw ; the sextons and
organists to be enrolled as common soldiers, if fit
for the service, or if not, placed in companies
of discipline. Several ecclesiastics have been
arrested in virtue of these instructions."
Most barbarous of all is the recommenced war of
the CZAR against Polish nationality and liberty, by
seizing old and young persons of education, often
feeble health, and generally of a class little used to
hardship, and sending them to Siberia, or to the
army in some distant province to serve as common
soldiers. We read not only that one hundred and
sixty-two priests have been imprisoned in the cita-
del of Warsaw, but that forty persons—of whom
eight are priests—have been sent as recruits to the
army at Orenburg ! Medical students, Jews, all
classes indeed of respectable citizens, share most
impartially these favours of the brutal emancipator
of the Russian serfs.

We have been informed on the best authority that
one of the Finsbury candidates, and one of whom
we had little expected it, is much below the politi-
cal standard of the borough which Mr. THOMAS
DUNCOMBE so spiritedly and creditably represented
for so many years. Mr. RE➢IINGTON MILLS is
doubtless a highly respectable citizen, wealthy
certainly, and a Dissenter ; yet he, of all candidates
in the world, comes short, on the subject of Church
Rates, of the representative whom he desires to
follow. Lord PALMERSTON, Lord JOHN RUSSELL,
and Sir G. C. LEWIS have improved on their creed
of 1832. They now confess that nothing but abo-
lition can meet all the difficulties of the case, but Mr.
MILLS has been applied to on the subject, and his an-
swer is that he will indeed vote for Sir JOHN TRELAW-
NEY'S bill, but that if a bill be brought in exempt-
ing Dissenters, and leaving Churchmen to rate
themselves, of course with compulsory powers, he
will vote for it. He is still an old Whig. He
sticks by memorials and petitions he presented
thirty years ago ; he has not, as Mr, DUNCOMBE
had, moved on with the progress of thirty years,
but is quite content if he can get what was thought
worth getting in 1832.
Now, we certainly thought the Dissenters never
showed to greater advantage than when resisting
the proposal to exempt them, and to ticket them off
from their fellow countrymen,as not bearing equally
every legal rate. They pressed two arguments.
They said, in towns, where indeed rates are sel-
dom levied, Dissenters would not fear to claim
exemption, but in. country parishes they dare not
claim it, the Squire and Parson's power to punish is
too great. But, secondly, they added, and this

The Emperor of AUSTRIA, of course, does not, in
his way, fall behind his cousin of -St. Petersburg.
He thinks himself now safe for a while in Italy,
and is, therefore, doing his worst in Hungary. We
were told a few days ago by Vienna tapers, that it
had been found quite easy to fill up the places of
the county officials who had universally refused to
act unless legally appointed by the comitats; but it
now turns out, that all who refuse to accept office
on the illegal and arbitrary appointment of the
EMPEROR, are punished by having eighteen soldiers
each quartered on them! This morning, also, we
learn that the highest officers are seized and
fettered, and placed before a court martial on a
charge of treason ! Paternal and constitutional
all this. It will, however, serve to keep up the
spirit of the country for the day of retribution.
The intention, doubtless, is to provoke premature
insurrection. The Hungarians are too wile awake,
we trust, for that.

Apropos to the forthcoming International Ex-
hibition of 18G2 some curious statistics have
recently made their appearance. They have been
raked out of the wilderness of "figures" annually
accumulated in the archives of the Board of Trade.

One item particularly notified of late is of a more

has always struck us as most honourably consistent

than ordinarily startling character in its way. It I—" even if you could exempt us by unobjectionable
is a revelation so extraordinary, in truth, that it sets means, we will be no parties to permitting Church-
one's mouth watering, as it were, at the merely men to coerce each other. Our opinion, is that
tantalising reminder it affords us of a most memo- there ought to be no more coercion to pay for wor-
rable missed opportunity. It is the fact revealed ship than to attend worship. We believe, religious
upon a passing contrast of the number of railway payment should be free."
journeys recorded as having been taken in 1851 This was Mr. DUNCOMBE'S creed on the subject.
in this country, and the number of the same Because a considerable number of Churchmen
kind of journeys performed also in this country would like to retain the power of ccercing their
ten years afterwards. It should be premised, of fellow Churchmen, he did not think that a reason
course, that within this decade last passed the pc- why they should retain it. He was strongly in
pulation has considerably increased, as a matter favoar of the short and simple process of requiring
of course, At the period of the last (that is at the each person voluntarily to support the worship he
same time—the first) International Exhibition, wished for. We remember being with a deputation
"There were," we are reminded, " 6,700 miles of to the present Premier, when in office before, and
railway open throughout the United Kingdom." Mr. DUNCOMBE was the member who pushed the
Whereas, " next year there will be nearly 11,000 cunning and equivocating Prime Minister into
miles." Besides which, " The general system of such a corner, that we believe it had more than
railway management has immensely improved also
since
rel anything else to do with his subsequent
lh,earnetdurnti
managers have now learnt to ap- conversion. Now can it really be that
pci a ,te 85 t
traffic at reduced rates,ek et system and the excursion a rich dissenter is prepared to take lower
which they would not even ground on such a subject than an aristocratic
hear of ten years ag0.77
Ilence—under these com- Radical, whose consistency never wavered through
iop
biped influences, i.e., the increase of
and
nl population, itohne, a long political career ?
the extension of the railways themselves,
advancement of the general system of railway ar- It will not do to shirk this question now. It has
rangement last particularised—theeggregate of become almost the only test, for the moment, of
thoroughgoing liberalism. The ballot and church-
railroad journeys performed within the year, from rate are now the clearest distinctions ba-
the Ist of January, 1800, to the 31st of December n parties. Not but that some liberal Tories,
following, is found, upon contrast with the aggro- Lord STA.N LEY being a conspicuous example, are
gate of journeys made in 1851, to have more ready to vote for the latter. A section of the Tory
"To such an extent," we learn, party, led by one great name, have seen fit, un-
,t,hhaanvedotuhbeleidnc!
increased facilities induced the public wisely for Conservatism,, 'we think, to make church-
to travel, that we find from the Board of Trade rates their battle-horse. They have partially
returns that the number of railway journeys per- succeeded, by whipping up all who preferred to
formed throughout the kingdom has continued give no vote on the question—and they look strong
steadily increasing at the enormous rate of nearly just now on a Wednesday—and is this the time
10,000,000 a year, and that the number has more when Finsbury is to send to Parliament a Dissent..

TIE:' SUN, F,LONDON, .THURSDAY EVENING, DE

ing Trimmer on Chareh-rates Is Finsbury to go
back to old Whig notions when Whigs themselves
have cast them off? We hope if Finsbury does re-
turn Mr. MILLS she will take from him a pledge to
vote for the abolition of all compulsory power to
levy Church-rates. We hope the borough will
affirm the principle, that it no more approves of
compelling Churchmen to pay for Church worship
than of compelling Dissenters to do it.

'~ `°

12, 1861.

PARIS, D EC. 12.
The Moniteur of this morning publishes the fol-
lowing imperial decree :

" Com idering that it imports essentially to the
order of the finances that the charges on the budget
should not be augmented without the Minister of
Finance having been enabled to appreciate and to
acquaint us whether there may be sufficient re-
sources to meet such additional charges, we decree
that for the future, no decree authorising or order-
ing any works or measures whatever, which may
add to the charges on the budget, shall be sub-
mitted to us for our signature unless accompanied
by an opinion from the Minister of Finance."

The Moniteur also announces that the reopening
of the Chamber of Deputies will probably take
place in the second fortnight in January.

PARIS, DEC. 11.

The Patrie of this evening announces that Gene-
ral Scott has left Paris in order to return to Ame-
rica, and adds, " It is asserted that his departure
took place in consequence of an urgent despatch
from the Washington Cabinet."
The Paris evening papers assert that the Federal
Minister of Marine has addressed a congratulatory
letter to Captain Wilkes, entirely approving of his
conduct.

The same papers state that Earl Russell, on
receiving a commercial deputation, reiterated the
assurance that measures had been taken for the free
exportation of cotton from the Southern States
from the beginning of February next.

TURIN, DEC. 11.

To-day, in the Chamber of Deputies, Baron
Ricasoli read a telegraphic despatch from General
Della Marmora, wherein the General declared that
be had never written reports nor spoken against the
policy of the Government, and that he had not
expressed any intention of tendering his resigna-
tion.

Long discussions took place on several orders
of the day which were afterwards presented to the
Chamber.

The closing of the discussion on the Neapolitan
and Roman questions was then resolved upon, and
the following order of the day, agreed to by the
Ministry, was put to the vote :
" The Chamber confirms the vote which it passed
on the 27th of March, declaring Rome to be the
capital of Italy, and trusts that the Government
will provide with alacrity for the completion of the
national armament, the organisation of the king-
dom, and the effectual protection of persons and
property.
"Taking into consideration also the declarations
of the Ministry relative to the public safety, to the
elections to the Chambers, to the bestowal of public
offices on persons of known probity, ability, and
patriotism, and reorganisation of the magistracy, the
greater development of public works, the organisa-
tion of the National Guard, and, finally, to their
promise to take all other measures which may pro-
cure the wellbeing of the Southern Provinces, the
Chamber passes to the order of the day."
The votes of the Deputies on the above order of
the day were recorded orally, and gave the follow-
ing results
Aye5....
Noes

Majority for the order.... 153
Signor Rattazzi doted in favour of the order of
the day.

PESTH, DEC. 11.

The Second Palatine and the Commissioner of
Public Safety have been brought into this city in
fetters, in order to be tried before a court-martial
on a charge of high treason.
It is asserted that the First Palatine, Count
Syaparry, is also accused of high treason.

BRESLAU, DEC. 11.

Eighty persons, of whom eight are priests, have
been arrested at Warsaw, and sent as recruits
to the Russian army at Orenburg. One hundred
and sixty-two priests have been imprisoned in the
eitadel at Warsaw.

CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 11.
An intense monetary panic prevails here.
The Bourse has been closed.
Fu Ltd Pasha is expected to arrive here to-day.

SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 12.

The Hamburg and American Company's steamer
Saxonia, from New York on the 30th ult., has
arrived off Cowes.
She brings 158 passengers.
Her news has been anticipated.