The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-23 00:00:00

How many of those who voted in the Majority
slur over their reference to the Chinese Division 1
How many of them don't allude to it all—vide,
for instance, the Electioneering Address of the
Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Member for
Leominster. While, on the other hand, not a
man told off into the lobby of the Ministerial
Minority but eagerly courts some opportunity for
allusion to what identifies him in a signal manner
with the immediate source of the immense popu-
larity of Viscount PALMERSTON !
Meanwhile about the Retirements—How
many of them may be regarded as auguries of de-
terioration and weakness to the Opposition. Fif-
teen county seats alone may be already mentioned
as among the number of those vacated by old Der-
byite representatives. Fifteen of the county
seats alone Argyleshire, South Derby, North
Devon, South Han is—two for East and one for
West Norfolk—one for H erts and one for South
Warwickshire—ono for Lincolnshire, for the Isle
of Wight, for Gloucestershire, for Berkshire, for
Glamorganshire, and for Clackmanuan I Fifteen
old Conservative county seats already vacated
in despair and handed .1 over to new
and Liberal candidates Palmerstonians !
Amongst the number of these retiring Derbyites
being Sir THOMAS ACLAND and Sir JOHN STRACEY,
Sir HENRY MEUX and Sir GEORGE TYLER, Lord
GUERNSEY and LORD BARRINGTON, Colonel HAR-
COURT and Sir ISLAY CAMPBELL ! TO say the
least of it, signifiCant ! Significant—considering
that these are agricultural constituencies, we may
venture to say wonderfully significant—of muc't
that is disastrous to the Derbyites, and of all that
is auspicious to the Paltnerstonians.

The Parliament of 1852 has terminated its
existence. It will be regretted only by those
who can no longer attach the magic initials M.P.
to their respective names, and who must, hence-
forth, " bid a long farewell to all their greatness."
But little can be said in its favour. And the
eountty, warned by the deficiencies so painfully
notorious during its Career, must endeavour to
obtain from its successor the boons so urgently
required, and so contumeliously refused, by that
now numberci with the past. Nothing has oc-
curred to cause its memory to be held in grateful
recollection. The prestige of Great Britain was
scarcely maintained—certainly not advanced—
during its continuance, and there were no domes-
tic ameliorations to compensate for its short-
comings in other respects. Many important re-
forms were spoken of, but few, if any, carried
into executi3n. It may be characterised as the
"do-little" Parliament. The chief object, ap-
parently, being to reject or emasculate every useful
measure introduced by any party, whether on
behalf of the Government or of private indivi-
duals. It has struggled through a tolerably pro-
tracted ex;stince, having advanced some way into
into its fifth year before the factious vote was
delivered, which may be regarded as an act of
virtual suicide. Never was a "penal dissolu-
lution" better merited. May its fate act as a
salutary caution to its future successors.

It was called together by the late Derbyite
Cabinet. Early in 1852 the Rossini, Adminis-
tration had been driven from office. A just re-
tribution attended the ill-treatment of its most
efficient member, and the wrongs of Lord PA.L-
MERSTON were speedily mild completely avenged.
The leader of that which had once been the great
Conservative party received the commands of his
SOVEREIGN to form a New Ministry. The ttsk
was undertaken, but it was obvious that nothing
could be effected with the then House of Celli-
mons by the "Protectionist chief." "An Appeal
to the Country" became indispensable, and
the Government was carried• on through
the forbearance of the Opposition, on the under.
standing that no great measure was to be attempt-
ed. Even before the contest the principle of " Pro-
tectkat" was consigned to a dishonoured grave,
or rather every attempt to resuscitate the departed
monster was abandoned, save by a few fanatical
admirers, so that the late Parliament cannot even
claim the honour of settling a question that had
previously been disposed of by an overwhelming
majority of the people.
It has been stated that " much could not have
been expected from a body chosen under such
circumstances." We cannot, however, agree
with the observation. Great questions of
Reform, Parliamentary, monetary, fl ca
financial, and legal were agitated. Profess
ing Reformers received a generous and dis-
interested support. There was sufficient strength
to carry any point in which either the Govern-
ment or the members were really and truly in
earnest, and we may ascribe the failures that halo
since occurred to the apathy and indifference of
the House, rather than to its want of power t
give effect to its resolutions. The questions
affecting civil and religious liberty—among which
Jewish Disabilities and the Marriage Affinities
Bill were the most importaut----were repeatedly
affirmed in the Commons, but in such a manner
that the other branch of -the Legislature was en-
couraged to reject them with but scant ceremony.
The first act was to reject the financial scheme
of Mr. DISRAELI. That led to the Coalition Ca
binet, under the nominal, leadership of the Earl o

ABERDEEN. It was hc,ped that the Income Tax
anomaly would have been removed, and that the
distinction between. permanent and precarious
revenue would receive a legislative recognition.
It is but jUstice t o Mr. DISRA.ELI to say that he,
to a certain trivia' extent, adopted the wishes of

the pecplo. 13ut although the relief was
trifling tho 4.,rin,eiplc was valuable, and the matter
would unqu oP,tionably have been carried further
but for the
I
:speedy overthrow of the Administra-
tion. "T ne GLADSTONE dodge" wag then prac-
tised. F :vowing that ho could net resist the
just chi' .ns of thofio who had so long been
defraud' .d, by being compelled to contribute more
than tt heir fair proportion to the Exchequer, be
Prete' „del Co provide for the total extinction of

the tax iu 1860. The people fell into the trap,
;hough we, at least, pointed out the
extent (if the ikeeption about to ha practisotl.

Cho renewal WLI.3 granted in the manner asked for

by Mr. GLADSTONE, and the nation was consc-

quently saddled with the burden for a longer term

than it had ever previously been asked for.
Ho also carried his proposal for the redemption
of a portion of the National Debt, and thereby

oceaszioned a serious loss to the Treasury. It is

reolarkath that at the very time when lie was
bringing forward ..he Abolition, he must have been

aware of the ominous hints respecting the division
of "the sick man's" assets, and of the threatening
clouds hanging over the Eastern horizon. But
still ho disregarded all these salutary warnings,
and acted as if he believed that denuding
the Exchequer of its balances and paying off
nearly nine millions of debt at the commence-
ment of a formidable war was really " a
valuable financial denionstration," as declared
by his great admirer of the Fourth Estate—the
Jupiter tonans of Printing House-square. Since
that year scarcely anything has been accom-
plished. The pendency of the war has been the
apology for total inaction in all domestic matters,
and since its " lame and impotent conclusion"
the memories of the past have been the excuses
for continued idleness., It was hopeless to expect
anything really good or useful at its hands. The
" season was not opportune " for bringing the
good seed sown to maturity. Even during the
current year we were threatened with a prolon_
gation of the iniquitous Bank Charter Act with-
out change or modification of any descrip-
tion. Mr. LOCKE KING'S motion for the
much - required extension of the suffrage,
was negatived ; and although many nc-
tices were placed on the book, there was
nothing to test the feeling of the House on the
qtkestion of the revision of the Income Tax.
From the very commencement of its career it
showed that it " had no aptitude for domestic
legislation." Reformers have much to do to
compensate for the shortcomings of the Parlia-
ment inaugurated under" the auspices of the Earl
of DERBT. We can only hope that their future
zeal and energy may make some scanty atone-
ment for much time scandalously wasted
and misapplied. The defunct Parliament
will act 'as a " beacon light," to show
how little use may be made of the best possible
materials. A'l that we can ray is that the same
apathy that prevented it from passing beneficial
measures, also arrested the progress of others
highly detrimental to tke welfare and prosperity
of the nation. Its offences were those chiefly of
omission ; but for the want of energy and deci-
sion we should have been victimised with a Bank
Charter Act, continued until 1866, and an un-
modified Income Tax for at least three years
longer.

TH NEW WRITS.

On Saturday afternoon, at three o'cllck, the writ for
the election of four " discreet men" to serve in Parlia-
ment for the City of London during the ensuing session,
was received by Mr. Secondary Potter, at Guildhall.
This day at noon, Mr. Sheriff Mechi, Mr. Sheriff Keats,
&c., attended at the Guildhall and Royal Exchange and
proclaimed the fact. The nomination will take place 'on
Friday morning next, and the polling on the ensuing
day. The declaration will be made on the Monday fol
lowing.

The notninat on for Westminster w ill take place on
Thursday, the Foiling on Friday, and the declaration on
Saturday. In most of the other metropolitan boroughs
the nominations will take place on Friday, and the poll-
ing, where there is opposition, on Saturday.
The whole of the writs for the towns and counties of
the United Kingdom were sent through the Post-office
by the several nails on Saturday evening, so that the
elections will necessarily take place almost s multane-
ously.

LIVERPOOL ELECTIO.Y.

(BY ELECTRIC TELECIRAPB.)
LIVERPOOL, MONDAY MORNING
_ _

The writ for Liverpool, by some carelessness on tht
part of the Govirnment officials, has been sent to the
office of the Cointy Palatine at Preston, and some doubt
is entertained ehether•it will find its proper destination
by four o'clock 6,0-day, in which case the election will be
thrown over unit next week. If it arrives at Liverpool
to-day, the nomination will take place on Friday.

The Queen hell a Privy Council and Court on Satur-
day afternoon, it Buckingham PaFree.
The Council was, attended by, his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, Earl Granville (Lord President), Lord
Cranworth (Lord Chancellor), We Marquis of Lans-
downe, the Earl of Harrowby (Lord Privy Seal),
Viscount Palmerston (First Lord of the Treasury), Sir
George Grey (Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
ment), Eirl of Clarendon (Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs), Lord Panmure (Secretary of State for War),
Sir G. Curnewalt Lewis (Chancellor of the Exchequer),
Sir Charles Wood (First Lord of the Admiralty), the
Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith (President of the Board
of Control), Lord Stanley of Alderley (President of the
Board of Trade), the Right Hon. M. T. Baines (Chan-
cellor of the Duchy of Lancaster), the Marquis of
Breadalbane (Lord Chamberlain), the Deke of Wellieg
ton (Master Of the Horse), and the Marquis of Aber-
corn (Groom of the Stele to Prince Albert).
At the Council a proclamation was issued dissolving
the present Parliament, and summoning a new Parla-
ment, the writ 9 to be returnable on Thursday, the-30th
April nex:.
The Right 'Hon. James, Earl of Elgin, by command
of the Queen, was sworn of her Majesty's Most Honour-
able Privy Council.
The Hon. William Bathurst was the Clerk of the
Council in Waiting.
At the Court, Sir John Crampton was presented to
the Queen at an audience by the Earl of Clarendon,
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and kissed hands
on being appointed her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of Hanover.
Earl Granville, the Earl of Clarendon, Viscount Pal-
merston, and Lord Panmure, had audiences of her
Majesty on Saturday.
The Court was attended by Lord Ernest Bruce (Vice
Chamberlain), Viscount Castlerosse (Comptroller of th.
Household), Lord Byron (Lord in Waiting), and Major-
General Berkeley Drummond (Groom in Waiting). •
The Prince of Wales, attended by Major-General
W.)lde and Mr. Gibbs, visited the Royal Institution,
Albemarle-street, on Friday evening, to attend a lenturd
on the Submarine Telegraph, by Mr. J. W. Brett.
The Duke and Duchess de Nernours visited the Du-
chess of Sent, on Saturday, at Clarence House, St.
James's. The Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg visited
her Royal Highness yesterday.
His Excellency the Belgian Minister and Madame
Van de Weyer received at dinner, on Saturday evening,
at their mansion in Portland-place, his Excellency the
Sardinian Minister, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford,
the Marquis of_Lansdowne, the Earl and Countess Stan-
hope, the Countess de Flahault and Miss Elphinstune do
Flahault, Frances Countess Waldegrave, and Mr. Har.
court, M.P., Count Van de Burch, the Right Hon. Sir
C. Wood, M.P., and Lady Mary Wood, Sir Anthony
and Lady de Rothschild, Col. Francis Seymour Seymour,
and Mr. Batrs.
The Earl de Grey, who has been much indisposed at
Wrest Park, for some time past, is improving in health.
The Countess Dowager of Ellesmere and Lady Blanche
Egerton are at present sojourning at Ratchford Park,
near Cobham, Surrey. The Earl and Countess of Elles
mere ar© at Bridgewater House.
Lady Alol,,sworth entertained at dinner, on Saturday
evening, the Lord Coanetlior and Lady Oran worth, the
Earl and Countess of Perth, Laura Countess of Antrim,

.•
Viscount and Viscountess Falkland, Viscount and Vis-
countess Duncan, Baron and Baroness Meyer de Roths-
child, Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. G. Harcourt Vernon,
Lady Johnstone, Mr. Osborne, M.P., and Mr. Plrinn.
Sir Charles Wood, M.P., and Lady Mary Wood leave
town to-day for Halifax.
Lady Peel is exoect,•.7.l in town to-day from the seat of
Captain William Peel,'in Bedfordshire.
DEATH OF SIR GEORGE ANDERSON, K.C.B.—Sir G.
W. Anderson, governor of the Mauritius in 1849, and
1850, and Governor of Ceylon in the latter year, who
died on Tuesday in Westbourne.terrace, was born in .14. m.
don in 1791, his father being a L'endon merchant. He
was educated at Haileybuiy CAN", and entered the
civil service of the East India Company on the Reinbay
establishment in 1806. He filled the posts of assistant
to the Accountant-General (1809), registrar of the Court
of Adawlut, assistant-judge, (1815), and criminal judge
(1821) of Sorat, judge at Poonafs and Slit)kiwi.° (1825),
pike of the Sts der Dewany, and commissioner of jus-
tice in the Deccan (1827), for his services in which offices
he repeatedly received the thanks of the local and house I
Governments. He was appointed c Lector and political
teent in South Mahra to country in 1831, senior judge
eSudder Dcwany in 1833, Indian law commi.eioner
in 1835, member of Council and chief judge of the Sadder
Adawlut in the same year, arid, finally, served as gayer•
nor of Bombay from April, 1841, to June, 1842, and his
high merits led to his two nominations to a colonial
governorshit „ He married first, in 1813, the datighter
of Mr. J. P. Kensington; and, secondly, in 1833, the
daughter of Mr. Wight.

One of the most murderous attacks which have
occurred in this neighbourhood for some time, and
which, it is to be feared, will be aVended with fatal
results, was perpetrated on Frid by night, under
the f allowing c'rcurnstances :—About half-past 11
o'clock, as police-constable Robert Walker (a newly-
appointed officer under Colowl Cobbe), stationed
at Wombwell, was going his round at Saniihlev,
about a mile from the Lanadbill Coliiery, lie heard
some men in a field in which were a number of
sheep belonging to Mr. Ba-hforth, farmer, of Al-
dam-house. Having no doubt as to the intentions
of the men, he got behind a hedge in an adjoining
field, where he could partly see what was going on.
He had only been there a short time when he saw
three men drive the flock of sheep into the coiner
of the field close to where he was concealed, a ,hort
hedge only dividing them. Having caught two
of the sheep, one of *the party asked, " Where
shall we stick them ?" Another replied, " Let
us take them down to the low end of the
field," which they proceeded to do. The constable
having heard the answer male at once prepared to
attack the men and endeavour to capture some of
them. For this purpose he took off his coat-belt
and lantern, and followed them at the other side of
the hedge. On arriving at the bott'.m of the field
he could only see two men, who had the sheep on
the ground, and who was stooping over them. He
struck one of them a blow witk a heavy walking-
; stick, and the other he succeeded in handcuffing.
Another man, who was no doubt of the three he
first saw, came up and gave a whistle. The signal
was responded to, and five more men rushed to the
spot, when a desperate struggle ensued, the men be-
ing
armed with life-preservers and butchers' knives.
Walker's stick having broken, he seized a life-pre- '
server from one of the villains, which he used with
good effect. For a short tme the constable with-
stood the attack, during which the parties' in the
scuffle rolled over the low hedge into an ad-
joining field. The knives and life-preservers
were then used most unmercifully, till Walker
was completely overpowered and rendered in-
sensible. The men, including the one with the
handcuffs on, then made off. On the policeman
recovering he, with great difficulty, managed to
crawl to the farm of Mr. Walton, about 80 yards dis-
tant.
He was immediately conveyed to his residence
at Wombwell, and medical aid called in;.whea it
was found that two of his fingers were entirely cut
off, and a third was hanging by the skin, which was
afterwards amputated. The two fingers were found
in the field where the attack occurred, having been
severed by a knife. He was bruised and cut nearly
all over his body, having seven severe wounds on
the head, all inflicted with knives, his face cut in a
shocking manner, and one of his shoulders dislo-
cated. He now lies in a very precarious state, very
little hope of his recovery being entertained. On
visiting the scene of the affray, a heavy life-pre-
server and a hat were found in the part of the field
where the struggle took place, the ground being
covered with blood and trodden down, showing
that the affray must have been of a most deadly
character. Mr. Superintendent Green, of Barns-
ley, was quickly on the spot, and took immediate
steps for pursuing the villains, who, there is every
reason to suspect, belong to an extensive gang
who have long infested Barnsley and the
tie ighbourbood. From what can be gleaned
from the constable in his dangerous state, it appears
that there is little doubt that some of the men will
be easily recognisable from the injuries inflicted
upon them. Messrs. Alderson, Burman, and Wain-
wright, surgeons, have been in constant attendance
upon the unfortunate man. Great fears are enter-
tained that lockjaw will supervene.

THE SPEAKER's FAREWELL DINNER,—The Right Hon.
the Speaker gave his farewell dinner to the principal offi-
!ers of the House of Commons on Saturday evening, the
21st inst., at 89, Eaton-square. The following had the
eonour of receiving invitations :—Sir Denis Le Mar-
ohant, Lord C. Russell, Rev. T. Gamier, the lion. Geo.
Waldegrave, Mr. Erskine May, Mr. Henry Ley, Capt.
Gossett, Mr. Vardon, Mr. Rickards, Mr. Lefroy, Mr.
Samuel Smith, Mr. Frere, Mr. Arthur Jones, Mr.
Gudge, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Gibbons, Colonel Forester, Mr,
Rowland, Mr. Gunnell, Mr. Postlethwaite, Mr. Rose,
nr. Pole, and Mr. Gray.
Captain the Hon. Francis Egerton has left town to
join his ship in the Mediterranean.
The Pays says that Lord Elgin will come to Paris
before his departure for China. The fact probably is
shat he will pass through Paris on his way out, and will
nave an audience of the Emperor.
It is untrue that the Porte has addressed a circular
despatch to foreign Governments in answer to the Moni-
teurs note on the union of the Dauubian Principalities.
A few days ago his Grace the Duke of Newcastle sent
to all his labourers and cottagers on his estate six pounds
of beef, one bottle of old ale (twenty-three years old),
and one quart of real Clamber
The Augsburg Gazette learns from Turin that the
Roman Cathole Bishops in Savoy were already beginning
to take advantage of the misunderstanding between
Austria and Sardinia,
The Lloyd steamer Austria has brought the following
news of the 13th of March from Constantinople. In
consequence of a quarrel with Lord Redcliffe, M. Pisani,
the First Dragoman of the British Embvsy, has ten-
ders(' his resignation.
Sir Joseph Bailey, Bart., of Glainusk Park, Breck-
nock, haS presented the sum of 3,0001. to the Wel ington
College, and 5001. to the Cambridge A yluro. He has
also become a patron of the Cavalry College at Rich-
mond, and taken nominations to the extent of 4501.
HOUSE OF LORDS.—Their lordships sat on Saturday
at twelve o'clock, for privileges. Mr. Walford appeared
at the bar and tendered evidence. s The claim of the
present Earl of Bandon to vote at the election of repre-
sentative peers for Ireland was allowed. A similar claim
on the part of Viscount Hawarden was also allowed.
ETON COLLEGE.—The vacant fellowship occasioned
by the death of the Rev. G. Bethel', the vi, ;-provost,
on the 16th inst., it is expected will be filled up by the
Rev. W. Laurence Elliott, M.A., the 'much-respected
senior assistant master in the lower school.
Some subterranean grottoes have just been discovered
at,Darcey (Cote d'Or), at a short distance from the Lyons
railway. They are about 300 metres long an 120 metres
high, and terminate at a lake of a certain extent. They
contain some fine stalactites and crystallisations.
VIENNA, March 20.—During the last three weeks seve-
ral letters, in which mention was made of M. Bianchi,
of Mantua, have been received hero, but the state-
ments of the writers were so contradictory that i!
was impossible to make any use of them. Yester-
day, however, some information was obtained which is
probably correct, although it came from a military source.
M. Bianchi has recoaered from the wounds inflicted on
him by the officers, and the latter have been acquitted.
CRYSTAL PALACE.—The oratorios to be performed at
the forthcoming Handel Festival have now been posi-
tively determined on. They are as follows ;—" Messiah,"
on Monday, June 15 ; " Judas Maccabasus," June 17 ;
and " Israel in Egypt," June 19. Mr. Costa has con-
sented to conduct the performances, and the whole musi-
cal arrangements are entirely under his control. The
prices of reserved seats or stalls have been fixed at one
guinea for each oratorio, or two guineas and a-half frr
one stall for the series of three.
ADVERTISING FOR CANDIDATES.—The following cu-
rious advertisement appears in the Berwick. Advertiser of
Saturday :—" Wanted, a candidate for the representa-
tion of the county of Berwick in the Howe of Com-
mons of Parliament, the present bon. member not having,
as yet, signified his intention of again corning forward.
Parties of moderately Liberal princip'es, and having the
other requisite qualifications, are entreated to make im-
mediate application."
THE UNITED STATES AND NORTH AMERICAN MAILS.
—Liverpool, March 21. —The royal mail steam ship Asia
for New York, took her departure to-day with a large
cargo of dry goods and 63 passengers ; and the team-
ship Dane sailed for Pernambuco and Bahia, being the
first of Messrs. Laird and Co.'s new line from this port.
She takes out a mail, a fair cargo, but no passengers.
The Canadian mail screw-steamer Canadian sails on
Wednesday for Portl nd, United States.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT
OFFICES.—Up to 12 o'clock on Saturday night, West-
minster Hall might have been seen besieged by porters,
carrying huge packing cases. These contained archi-
tects' nesignsi for the new Government offices, submitted

in competition in answer to Sir B. Hall's invitation, ad-
dressed to architects of all nations. The Government
has already received something under 200 designs, and
more are on their way from abroad, se that there will
be no reason to' reproaoh the profession for backward-
ness in entering the listl. The prize sought for by each
competitor is the commission to carry out his plans.
DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT TO DESTROY A RAILWAY TRAIN.
—Oa Saturday last some fiend in human form made a
deliberate and diabolical attempt to overturn a railway
train on the Llanellyind Llandilo railway, The villain,
knowing the time for the approach of one of the down
trails, managed, unobserved, to alter the switche,,
whereby the train, had the alteration escaped notice,
would have been run off the lice, arid in all probability
overturned and smashed. Fortunately, the engine driver,
Wm. Ham, to whose carefulne:s and discretion the ut-
most praise should be awarded, was keeping an anxious
look-out ahead, and observing that the switch was not
right he shut off his steam and put on his drags and breaks.
In consequence of these precautions the speed was
greatly slackened, and the impetus of the train, broken
before it reacheftthe switches, so that beyond running
11 off the line ) injury was dono. It i.i to be hope I that
the perpetrator of the diabolical act will be brought to
justice.

- THE MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN OF IRELAND.—TIio
report states that during the past half-year there has
been an increase of 15,7011. in the receipts. The total
income for the half-year, derivable from all source-, has
amounted to 92,1821.,135. Od. ; while the total disburse-
ments have been 49,7521. lie. 9J. ; leaving a ha'ance
of 42,4301. 35., to which is to be added surplus from
last half-year 3,969/.35. 10d. ; making 46,3991.55. 10d. ;
from which the directors propose to take a sum of
6,0981. 2s. Bd., thereby increasing the reserved fund to
30,000/. ; and to add 8,7081. ls. 6d. in aid of the de-
preciation fund (being 5 per cent. on the cost of the roll-
ing stock at the end of last year), making this fund
19,5701. 18s. 6d. ; leaving disposable a sum of 31,5931.
ls. 81. From this amount the directors propose that a
dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum, free of
income ta; amounting to 23,915/ , bhall be paid on the
capital of the company; and the balance, 2,6781. is.
be carried to the next half-year's account.