The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-18 00:00:00

Commence at Seven,

THEATRE-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Lessee—Mr. E. T. Smith.
For the Benefit of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams.
Tuts EVENING, IN AND OUT OF PLACE. Mr. ant
Mrs. Bas ney Williams.
Followed by BARNEY THE BARON.
l'o conclude with the new pantomime, ROBIN HOOD ;
er, Harlequin Friar Tuck and the Merry Men of Sherwood
Forest.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. _ .

THIS EVENING will be presented Shakspere's Play of A
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.
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After which, a new Errand Christmas Pantomime, entitled
T lIE KING OF THE CASTLE; or, Harlequin Prince
Diamond and Princess Brighteyes.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, AN UNEQUAL MATCH. Miss Amy
Sedgwick, Mr. Bucketone, &c.
After which, a new grand Comic of
Pntomimentitled
UNDINE ; or, Harlequin and the Spirit the Wa, eters.
Commence at 7.

lIOYALLYCrEUIVI THEATRE.
Manager, M
ager, Edmond Falconer,

Last Two Nights of Madame Celeste's engagement.
THIS EVENING, will be produced a New Drama, by
J. Oxenford, Esq., entitled THE LAST HOPE.

After which, THE KING'S GARDENER.
To conclude with a Grand Ballet and Scene from THE
SIEGE OF TROY. Miss Rosins Wright, Miss Harriet
Dalton, Miss Jenny Lauri. Mr. John Lauri, and Corps de
Ballet.
Reduced Prices—Dress Boxes, 45. ; Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Pit,
2s. ; Stalls, 58. ; Gallery, la. "
Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half- past
6 to commence at 7 every evening.

NEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHL
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster.
Revival of MASKS AND FACES; Triplet, Mr. B. Webster.
Fifth appearance in the New Theatre of Mr. Wright. Con-
tinued success of the INVISIBLE PRINCE.
THIS EVENING, the performance will commence with
MASKS AND FACES ; Jr. B. Webster, C. Selby, Mr. Bil-
lington, P. Bedford, Miss Woolgar, Miss 11. Sims, Mrs. Bil-
lington.
After which, WELCOME LITTLE STRANGER. Mr.
Wright.
To conclude with THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. Mr. J. L.
Toole.
•

Doors open at a quarter-past six—Commence at seven. Box
Office open from 10 to 5- no charge for booking. No fees to
servants permitted. A registry kept of all articles found.
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wigan are engaged. Due notice will
be given of their appearance.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE
Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough
THIS EVENING. WOOING IN JEST AND LOVING
IN EARNEST.
After which, the new Extravaganza, KENILWORTH ; or
Ye Queene. ye Earle, and ye Maydenne.
And THE BONNIE FISH WIFE.
Commence at 7 o'clock.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE,
Westminster-road.

Lessee and Manager Mr. William Cooke.
THE SCOTT COMMEMORATION.

THIS EVENING, and during the week, the revived dra-
matic Romance from Sir Walter Scott, entitled KENIL-
WORTH, re-produced with original effects and additional
splendour.
To be followed by SCENES IN THE CIRCLE, intro-
ducing Mr. W. Cooke, Mr. Bridges, Mr. A. 'Cooke, &c.
Madame Blanche, Madame Bridges. Maddlle. Fleurette, and
Emily Cooke, together with the Star Riders. and Astley's
unrivalled Troupe of Equestrian Artistes.
To conclude with the great Operatic and Burlesque Eques-
trian Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN BARON MUN-
CII.\USEN, AND HIS COMICAL CREAM COB
CRUISER. Baron Munchausen,Mr. W. Anson ; Harlequin,
Mr. H. Hemmings ; Pantaloon, Mr. Morley; Clown, Mr. A.
F. Forrest, the Grimaldi of the day ; Columbine, Miss Julia
Weston. Brilliant and unsurpassable Transformation Scene,
with dazzling effects of Colour and Fire. Gorgeous Scenery,
and every incident in bustling reality, from Regent-street to
the "New Palace for the People, at Muswell Hill."
Dress Circle, 4s. ; Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, 2s, ; Gallery, is. ; Upper
Gallery, 6d.
Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips.

CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.—
Proprietor—C. MORTON.
The public is most respectfully informed that the Fria
ARTS GALLERY, in connection with the above Hall, IS WOW
OPEN DAT AND NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 12
o'clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec-
tion of Pictures, by Ancient and Modern Masters and is also
devoted to Art productions generally. The Proprietor feels
he may confidently assert that, viewed altogether, the exist-
ing Music Hall, the New Fine Arts Gallery, and the recently
added Ante-Hall, will present an attraction which, whether
as regards the architectural beauty of the structures them-
selves, or the varied and hitherto unattempted combinations
within, will be found to be wholly without parallel in the
Kingdom.
The MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT commences as usual at
Seven o'clock.

In addition. to the usual entertainment, the SAUVLET
FAMILY, of Amsterdam, Eight in number, whose varied
instrumental performances have created so marked a sensa-
tion in the principal cities and towns of the Continent, will
perform every Evening at Nine an 3 Eleven o'clock.

TIIE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, FEB. 15.

THERMOMETER IN THE SHADE.
59—highest since noon yesterday.
42—lowest this morning and during the night.
49—this day at noon.

BAnomETEn-30-33.
WIND, North-Westerly; fresh and fine.

On Monday, the 28th February, the Ministerial
Reform Bill will be brought forward by the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer. There is no shirking nor
evading of the question. The promise given will
be faithfully and honourably redeemed; and on the
nature of the contemplated measure will depend,
not only the fate of the Government, but also the
peace and tranquillity of the country. There have
not been many demonstrations, but the omission is
easily accounted for. So many pledges have been
given, such brilliant hopes have been excited, that
the people are satisfied—believing that a large and
comprehensive measure is inevitable, and not

deeming it essential to waste power in the pursuit
of what must be conceded, beyond any possibility
of doubt, even within the present session. They are
waiting in assured quietude ; but any serious delay
might be productive of results which no Govern-
ment would wish to encounter, and which might
constitute very formidable precedents for future

transactions.
There will, of course, be a large increase of the
franchise for counties, cities, and boroughs. That
cannot, by any possibility, be avoided, and there
will also be a re-distribution of seats. Schedules
A, B, and C must be prepared so as in the first
instance to ensure that, every member taking his
seat and interfering in the National Legislation,
shall at least have a respectable constituency—one
that entitles him to be heard in " the grand in..

quest" of the country.
But there is even more required than this. It is
not merely that there should be a large constituency,
but it should also be an independent constituency
one that could faithfully express their feelings
through a representative elected without the ope-
ration of any corrupt or undue influence. Without
" the. Ballot," or privilege of secret voting, the
franchise would be a curse rather than a blessing
to many who would receive it. They would have
to answer many conflicting demands. The landlord,
the employer, the customer, the priest, whatever
might be his persuasion, would seek to control his
conscientious decision, while the hired bludgeon-man,
who seems to be regarded by Lord JOHN RUSSELL
as the impersonation of the misrepresented classes,
may give him abundant cause to remember the
vote he has given.
On every ground, then, the nation wants the
BALLOT. Is is the Alpha and Omega of Reform—
the one great point on which the hearts of nine-
tenths of the community are intently resolved. We
well know that neither Lord J. RUSSELL nor Lord
PALMERsToN will concede the boon in their low*
promised bills. We must, therefore, trust in Lord
DERBY, and we have but little doubt that, having
made up his mind that a measure of reform is
essential, he will give one that will be alike credit-

able to himself and satisfactory to the country. • 1
All his antecedents prove that he is not, by any
means,!disposed to resort to milk-and-water or emas-
culated measures. When he enters on any subject
he does so boldly and honourably, and without awf--
degree of concealment or reticence. We shall,
therefore, be fairly informed respecting the nature
and extent of the measure, and be enabled to com-
pare it with those that may proceed from either
of the rival candidates for the Premiership. Mr.
BRIGHT has fairly and candidly explained the
principles" on which he intends to proceed.
We wish that the claimants for office could
be induced to act in a similar manner. By so
doing they would afford an opportunity to the
people of deciding on thEgjust and reasonable
claims which they might be pleased to put forward.
The nation will no longer be governed by a family
clique. The rule of the ELLIOTS, GREYS, and
RUSSELLS cannot be continued, but something far
better will come from the present struggle.
We shall have not merely a reform in the election
of members, but, what is more important, in the
constitution of Cabinets.

A remarkable and somewhat peculiar political
argument has recently made its appearance. It
has been eventually issued in the form of a pamph-
let,* entitled—the writer confesses perhaps too
ambitiously—" A Plea for the Constitution." But it
was penned originally as a contribution intended to
adorn the pages of a Quarterly review. To be
plain—(for the identity of the publication hinted at
is sufficiently obvious from the imprinzatur on the
brochure, as well as from the colour of the political
thesis maintained throughout)—the pamphlet is
really and truly a rejected article written for "the"
Quarterly. Not an ordinary rejected article,
however. A perusal will show that distinctly
enough. But apart from the perusal, the paper, as
the pamphleteer informs us himself, in his preface,
" as containing an elaborate essay on Parliamentary
Government and Reform, was not prepared in
the shape appropriate to an article for a Review ;
and for this reason, with other reasons quite satis-
factory to myself, the editor was obliged to decline
it." Mr. AUSTIN, the writer of this really curious
and certainly, for the most part, very impressive
argument, originally intending to appear anony-
mously, as a reviewer, appears now avowedly (with
his name upon the title-page) as a pamphleteer.

As to himself, in the first instance, it is natural
that Mr. AUSTIN speaks, in his professional cha-
racter, somewhat authoritatively—h aving been for-
merly Professor of Jurisprudence at the London
University, and Reader on the same subject to the
Hon. Society of the Inner Temple. As a politician,
he certainly occupies, according to his own show-
ing, a somewhat anomalous position. Originally a
Benthamite, he has long since got rid of his Radi-
calism. He calls himself a Whig—but he argues
distinctly as if he were a Tory. He speaks of Earl
GREY'S essay on "Parliamentary Government con-
sidered with reference to a Reform of Par-
liament," as approaching closely to perfec-
tion—yet Earl GREY is for a good many
reforms, and Mr. AUSTIN is for no reforms what-
ever ! In explanation of which latter incongruity
it is only necessary to observe that our pamph-
leteer—who regards Lord GREY'S essay as approach-
ing closely to perfection—regards our present sys-
tem of Parliamentary Government as nearly as pos-
sible as perfection. Again and again he talks
earnestly and awfully of "our incomparable consti-
tution." His argument, as we have seen, is entitled
" A Plea for the Constitution." His hope is that
the existing organization of our constitutional go-
vernment may be maintained intact. Politically his
axiom appears to be what POPE'S was, what every
true Christian is, ethically—viz.—

"Whatever is, is right ! "

Insomuch that really and truly, in reference to the
present agitation for reform, Mr. AUSTIN might be
described as an alarmist. He insists that as things
are arranged among us, all interests are exquisitely
and perfectly balanced. Touch them—interfere with
the existing arrangement—and the balance is lost.
Surely this is the inverted pyramid! Surely it is
tantamount to maintaining that our constitutional
liberties are fearfully precarious, The reformer
says, on the contrary—" No : the pyramid is firmly
and indestructibly planted among us upon its
broad basis. By widening that basis we are
jeopardising nothing—we are only strengthening
the whole fabric—we are only removing further
and further from us the possibility of anything like
a subversion. Our loyalty to the powers that
be is surely more secure than yours—you who
maintain that the whole machinery of the constitu-
tion is so delicately balanced that at a touch the
whole may be disastrously jeopardised."

Mr. AUSTIN puts himself plainly enough
in the latter category. Upon his first page
he tells us pointblank (the italics, of course, are our
own)—" the consequences which I anticipate from
any Parliamentary Reform are all of them mischie-
vous." The veneration here expressed for the
Constitution is identical with that we remember
to have heard expressed by an enthusiastic Shdk-
sperian scholar when repudiating as sacrilegious
the emendations or alterations of the original
text by DRY DEN, LIBBER, and others—" Don't
presume to alter him ! Thank GOD you have got
such a poet ! and don't presume to alter him !" As
with the Shaksperian scholar in regard to the text
of the immortal Bard, so is it with Mr. AUSTIN
in regard to the machinery of the Constitution.
We arc not to presume to alter it. The Reason
Why—is certainly here given by the pamphleteer
very ably, and at times (as we have intimated) very
impressively.

It is because the arguments of the anti-Re-
formers have been articulated in this pamphlet
thus ably and impressively that we have been
desirous of directing the attention of the
general public to the really remarkable treatise
of the ex-Professor of Jurisprudence'. We do so
upon the good old principle inculcated in the
schoolboy phrase, audi alterant partenz—in com-
pliance with the historic ejaculation of the ancient
Greek, " Strike, but hear me !" As Reformers—
such is our confidence in thejustice and reasonable-
ness of our cause, that we would pay every respect-
ful attention to the logic of the anti-Reformers.
Wherefore, while we cannot for a single instant
admit that (acceording to a memorable
phrase that
once upon a time—not a hundred years ago—fell
from the lips of an august personage) our repre-
sentative system is "on its trial"—we would still,
in all manly frankness and candour, direct the
attention of our compatriots to Mr. AUSTIN'S
remarkable and impressive pamphlet, entitled (he
himself says ambitiously, we say quite superflu-
ously) A Plea for the Constitution.

1 A Plea for the Constitution. By John Austin, Esq
Bvo., pp. 42. John Murray. London, 1859.

There is a truism that "charity begins at home,"
hut if we take Mr. HOPLEY, of Eastbourne, as an
exponent we must admit that on his part the
charity is far and wide-spread among the multitude
of the poor, whose miseries are unspeakable.
We have on many occasions directed atten-
tion to Mr. HOPLEY'S very laudable and most
,generous endeavours in vindicating the social rights
of our fellow-men, and in bettering the condition

of the poorer hard-working classes, that we need
only direct attention to his recently-published
pamphlet, entitled " Wrongs that Cry for Re•
dress:!,

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THE SUN.
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 18, 1859.