The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-23 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1867.

" Blessed are they who expect little, for they
shall not be disappointed !" Our anticipations
respecting the present House of Commons were
not very great, but we confess that we did not
anticipate quite so pitiable an exhibition as that
of last night, in reference tik the sum voted for
the purpose of carrying out the contemplated
Prussian matrimonial alliance, It has been truly

said that the vote was carried by " impatient
acclamation." None of the chosen represen-
tatives of the people had the manliness
to propose a decreased allowance. It is
true that Mr. ROEBUCK objected both to
the amount, and to the manner in which it was
proposed to be paid, but even he saw that it was
hopeless to bring forward a substantive amend-
ment, for its reduction or modification, and there-
fore "the hard-handed, hard-working, and often
suffering people of England" are to be saddled with
the payment of 40,0001. down, and an annuity
of 8,0001. per annum for the life of the future
Queen of PRUSSIA.

We should have been glad to have swallowed
this nauseous dose at once and to have
been done with it, to have given 50,0001.
or 60,0001. and to have heard no more of
the unpleasing topic. But it pleases our rulers
to keep up the irritation, and to pay tribute for
some half century to a foreign Power which we
certainly have had no cause either to respect or
esteem.

It is not merely the addition to our burdens
that we complain of. We should willingly pay
the money, or even more, to the Parxenss ROYAL
if she remained with us. But her connection
with England will speedily be severed, and the
constant payments to Prussia will keep open a sore
which should be healed at the earliest moment. It
is alike contrary to the interests of England and the
dignity of the House of Brandenburg, that these
payments should be made. Even the ULYSEES
of the House of Coburg, King LEOPOLD himself
did not consider it consistent with his position as
an independent Sovereign, to be the stipendiary
of another nation. We are aware that the Royal
Clicquot has peculiar notions on everything relating
to L. S. D., that " Non olet nummus" is his
guiding principle, but we should have hoped that
the future husband of the Princess Royal of
England was not actuated by similar feelings of
cupidity, that every other consideration would
not be merged in " the greed of gain."
But what is to be given in return ! What
is Prussia to settle on the young couple ?
When Marriage is reduced to a " Smith-
field bargain," in which both parties are
haggling over every shilling, there should be
some degree of reciprocity ! We should know
what we are to get for our money ! If Prussia
was a mere beggarly Principality, like some of
our German States we wot of, we might make up
our minds to pay for both sides, and to give an
allowance of pocket money to the brisk young
bridegroom. But it professes to be one of the
great Powers (!) to maintain an elevated position
in the scale of nations, and surely it should make
adequate provision for its future Monarch and
his spouse. It is not merely England that should
supply the means for a gorgeous establishment in
Berlin, or to enable the heir presumptive of the
house of Brandenburg to stand in the glare of
Russian magnificence and not be eclipsed. The
less we have to do with Russia or with Prussia the
better ! And we cannot regard without appre-
hension the possible results of the inauspicious
connection, which may place the English Govern-
ment in the hands of a Prussian Viceroy.
Mr. ROEBUCK mentioned that the annuity,
taken at 22 years' purchase, would amount to
216,000/. We are thus giving more than
a-quarter of a million to one of nine, and
establishing a bad precedent for other cases.
But there is another point of view in which it
should be regarded. An annuity of 1,000/. would
at compound interest amount in 14 years to
20,0001., in 28 years to 60,0001, in 42 years
to 140,0001., and in 56 years to 300,0001. Now
56 years is by no means an extravagant estimate
of the duration of life for a young lady of the
mature age of 16 years. The total amount, then,
to be levied on the tax payers of the United
Kingdom, should she enter on her seventy-third
year under the annuity, will be 2,400,0001., and
if she should be so strong as to reach fourscore
and six, 4,960,000/. This is something worth
thinking of, when the dose is to be nine times,
aye, perhaps a dozen times repeated. We want
to get rid of the question. If it was one of the
Serene Paupers, with an unpronounceable name,
who was the pensioner on our bounty, we might
submit, albeit with a bad grace. But it is very
different with Prussia, who could and ought to
bear the expenses herself without any dip into
the English Exchequer.

There was no allusion made to the possibility
of the British Crown falling to the lot of the
Prussian King. We have no hesitation in saying
that such an event would produce the most cala-
mitous results. Sir G. C. LEWIS told us that the
Prince of Prussia was within the act of settlement,
and might himself be the inheritor of the
British sceptre. Thank GOD that catas-
trophe has been avoided. We should not
wish to speculate on the probable results
of such an event. But unless adequate means be
now adopted, they may arise. We must not for-
get that Queen VICTORIA. is the daughter of the
fourth son of GEORGE 111., and with such an un-
natural law in operation, as the Royal Marriage
act, it is by no means a violent presumption to
suppose that there may be no issue of any of her
four son., and that the Crown of England may
possibly descend to some future King of PRUSSIA.
Should there not then be a new Act of Settlement
to avert the risk of such an untoward event ?

The Touchstone of all true Reformers—The
Ballot—is to be brought forward at the earliest
possible period after Whitsuntide. It was so
announced last evening in the House of Commons
by Mr. HENRY BERKELEY. And it was distinctly
intimated at the same time by that honourable gen-
tleman that he meant thus to test the opinion of the
House upon that vitally important question—for
what purpose?—''for the guidance of her MAJESTY'S
Ministers in the consideration of the New Reform
Bill." Remembering which, we do conceive it to
be incumbent upon Hon. Members to be in at-
tendance upon the occasion hereafter to be par-
ticularly specified, no matter whether they are
among the antagonists, or among the sup-
porters, of the measure referred to. It befits
each representative individually tp pronounce
boldly and distinctly his views one way or another
—For or Against this long-vexed question of The
Ballot, It is imperatively requisite indeed, that
the popular branch of the Legislature should,
with as little delay as possible, declare itself defi
nitively upon this one point at least, Pro or
Contra. Such would be but simple justice to
the Constituencies. Such would be but fair to
the Government.
It would be but fair to the Government—if
only for the one simple reason given yesterday
by the member for Btistol. Because—that
the test Mr. BERKELEY now, according to an-
nual wont, proposes to submit to the House upon
the question of the Billet, is designed by him
(he deliberately volunteers the acknowledgment)
"for the guidance" of the Cabinet in the conside-
ration of their new scheme of Reform. The na-
ture, extent,
and bearing of that scheme notori-
ously does depend, obviously must depend, inva-
riably has depended before now, and will depend
inevitAbly in the same way hereafter upon tko

collective will and pleasure—not of this minister
or of that minister, not of this or of
that particular Cabinet, but of the aggre-
gate mass of the national representatives.
Administrations are but the creatures of Parlia-
ment. And therefore it Is so. " A breath may
make them, and a breath has made "—that
namely breathed from the lips of the Speaker--
when he declares the result, in striking the balance
of one bold Division. It is undeniable, therefore,
at all times, in regard to any Ministry, but it is,
if possible, more particularly undeniable now in
regard to the Ministry of Lord PALMERSON, that
the extent of any proposed reforms is dependant
in a peculiar manner upon the precise disposition
with reference to Reform, manifested by the col-
lective wisdom of tha representatives. Again,
therefore, we say—a declaration " For" er
" Against " The Ballot, by the New House of
Commons, will be but fair as regards the Go-
vernment.

It will be but justice to the Constituencies.
This we are disposed to insist upon particularly.
For we do not think there can be any question at all
about the fact of The Ballot being the Reform
beyond all others most loudly and most frequently
mooted, upon the various hustings far and wide
over the whole country throughout this last
General Election. The Ballot was, in truth, as
regards other Reforms, as the Favourite is to the
Field. Scarcely a Candidate but had his feelings
in reference to the Ballot probed, however painful
to himself the operation might chance to be.
Always excepting, of course, those particular can-
didates who may be said to carry their constituen-
cies in their pockets. And ' either they had
bluntly to say " No," if they could not possibly
find it in their hearts to say " Yes," in answer to
the pertinent query, " Are you favourable to the
Ballot ?"—ort—they had to shirk the difficulty by
means of some clever but shuffling evasion. When
once the matter is absolutely before Parliament,
no further opportunity will be left for this inge-
nious ruse on the part of the more timid, and at
the same time more obdurate, of the popular re-
presentatives. They will have to declare either
With or Against Mr. BERKELEY on his motion—
or, they will have shamefacedly to Avow their
anxiety to Evade rather than to Meet the Diffi-
culty by the paltry shuffle of Non-Attendance.
Unless Hon. Members are personally in attend-
ance at the House upon the night when Mr. BER-
KELEY will bring forward his yearly motion on the
Ballot, the only escape from the last-mentioned
disgrace will be by " Pairing." Wherefore, we
would here most urgently impress upon the Con-
stituencies throughout the country the necessity
there is now on their part for Watchfulness.
Let the Reformers generally all over the
three ,kingdoms look welt to it I Let
them scrutinise searchingly the Division List,
upon Mr. BERKLEY'S motion, and the names of
those may have the equal temerity to Pair upon
it ! But above all, let them note keenly the
names of all those Honourable Members
who may neither Pair nor Vote ! Those
—will be the Delinquents I Those are the shufflers
—they who would fain sneak out of the Dilemma
—but whose slipshod evasion of it by non-attend-
ance can only insure their own more conspicuous
exposure. The paltriest foes of all, these last, to
the Reformers—foes—

" Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike !"

The securest means of discovering them we have
pointed out to the Constituencies. Again we say
—Let these last look well to it. Mr. BZWEELEY'S
testing-night is fast coming on—the hon. member
having intimated, only yesterday, that he will
bring forward his annual motion on The Ballot as
soon as possible after Whitsuntide.

COURT CIRCULAR.

OSBORNE, MAT 22.
The Qneen drove out yesterday afternoon in an open
carriage, and the Prince rode on horseback.

Prince Alfred, attended by Lieutenant-General Sir F.
Stovin and Lieutenant Cowell, arrived at Osborne to-
day from the Continent. The Prince left Geneva, where
he passed the winter, at the end of April, and travelled
home, vi% Gotha, Coburg, Frankfort, Coblentz, and
Brussels.

The Prince of Wales crossed over in the Elfin, ai►.
tended by Lieutenant Colonel Ponsonby and Mr. Gibbs.,
to meet Prince Alfred at Portsmouth.

Lady Macdonald and the Hon. Caroline Cavendish
have succeeded the Duchess of Atholl and the Hon.
Mary Bulteel, as Lady and Maid of Honour in Waiting
to her Majesty.

DOVER, Max 22.
Her Majesty's steamer Banshee arrived this morning
from Ostend with his Royal Highness Prince Alfred,
who, after paying a short visit to the Duke of Cam-
bridge, who had stopped here, left by train for London.

PORTSMOUTH, MAY 22.
Prince Alfred arrived this afternoon from the Conti-
nent, via Dover. He was met at the railway station by
his brother the Prince of Wales, who came over from
Osborne to the dockyard, which he inspected in com-
pany with Admiral Martin. Their Royal Highnesses
left for Osborne this afternoon. The Prince of Wales
walked, with a gentleman in attendance, to the railway
station, riding hack.

THE PRINCE OE WALES IN A COAL PlT.—His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, after visiting the lake dis-
trict, arrived at Newcastle on Tuesday, about one o'clock,
by tb.e Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, accompanied by
Mr. H. T. Morton. His Royal Highness visited
Houghton Pit, the property of the Earl of Durham.
which he descended, and was conducted through some
of the workings by Mr. Heckels. The royal party were
conveyed from the bottom of the mine down "the engine
plane," into the workings in coal tubs, and remained in
the pit about an hour and a-half. The young Prince,
who made frequent and pertinent inquiries of his con-
ductors on different matters, was shown the mode of
working the coal, Scc. His Royal Highness then pro-
ceeded to Lambton Castle, the seat of the Earl of
Durham, to luncheon. In the evening the mail train for
the south stopped at Fence Houses for the young Prince,
and he left for York, where he intended staying all
night.

THE Plana OF WALES AT Yong.—The Prince of
Wales arrived at the York Railway Station, on Tuesday
evening, by the 9.28 p.m. train from the North, and re-
paired to Mr. Holiday's, the Royal Station Hotel,
where he remained for the night. The Prince and his
attendants were up betimes next morning, and having
partaken of an early breakfast, proceeded to make an
inspection of the noble cathedral, where he was received
by the Canon-in-Residence, the Venerable Stephen
Greyke, who explained to his Royal Highness the more
prominent objects of int'srest in the sacred edifice.
About a quarter before 10 o'clock, his Royal Highness
and suite quitted the cathedral for the railway station,
and arrived there just in time to travel by the 10 o'clock
Great Northern train for London.

DOVER, May 22.—His Rlyal Highness the Duke of
Cambridge, accompanied by Colonel Forster and Colonel
Tyrwhitt, arrived here yesterday afternoon, and was met
by General Sir F. Love and a numerous staff, who ac-
companied him to Birmingham's Royal Ship Hotel,
where the duke slept. His royal highness dined with
the officers of the 93d Highlanders, and this morning in-
spected and presented the regiment with colours, after
which he proceeded to Shorneclifte to review the troops
assembled there. Last evening the duke returned to
town. Her Majesty's steamer Banshee arrived this
morning from OKtend with his Royal Highness Prince
Alfred, who, after paying a short visit to the duke, left
by the train for London.
POSTAGE BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDO3I AND PART/.
—The fallowing schedule of rates is promulgated with a
Treasuey warrant in last night's Gazette —viz. : British
newspapers posted in the United Kingdom and sent to
Peru direct, or via Panama (the sea conveyance being by
British packet-boat), one penny each. Newspapers
published in the Spanish language, and posted in Peru,
sent from thence to aoy part of the United Kingdom
direct, or via Panama (the sea conveyance being by
British packet boat), one penny each. Newspapers pub-
lished in the Spanish language, and sent by British
packet-boat from one port in Peru to another port in
Peru (without passing tbrc'ugh the United Kingdom),
one penny each.