The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-16 00:00:00

rHE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, 1857.

not use the word now in its odious sense. The (canalised in 181.7 by the Celestial Emperor
two Lords have co-operated iu carrying -ELI-KANO is turned into the lake of Koho-tchi,
one Reform Bill, and there is nothing but recent and the waters of the lake forthwith overflew the
disagreements on other matters to hinder their surrounding districts 1 A proceeding altogether
cc-operation in this work again. For the sake of effectual of course in raising an impediment in
Reform itself, we could wish to have a Reform the way of the invaders, but cruelly disastrous to
auction, and the two leading Statesmen for the the unfortunate population. •
bidders ; but we fear their sense of common aris- Beyond the wholesale calamities thus scattered
tocratic interest. "If we try to outbid each broadcast among their own people, by order of the
other, the Radicals must be the chief gainers," Imperial Councillors at Pekin—the Members of
will be their whispered opinion. " Can't the Nuy-ko or State Cabinet—either tolerate or
we make a bargain, and get Reform on directly organise a series of more restricted, but
very easy terms." " You, Lord JOHN, have a equally inhuman, atrocities with a view to the
majority who would vote a rather stiffish Reform destruction of their antagonists by foul means
Bill." " You, Lord PALMERSTON, have a majority rather than chivalrously in open battle. Hence,
who would vote a great many things because Lord the arsenic despicably introduced (by somebody)
PALMERSTON proposed them." " The only thing a few weeks back at Hong Kong into the bread
to settle, then, is how we can be Spartan Kings or supplied by a Chinese baker to the English resi-
Roman Consuls—both be first together. Now, dents ! Hence, the deadly poison lately infused
as you are the domestic politician by profession, through the agency of the prepared bark of some
and I the foreign one, can't we arrange a kind of terrible tree (some tree hardly less fatal than the
double Premiership, in which we shall enjoy about Fabled Upas) into the fresh water that British
equal honours ?" ships have been in the habit of taking at
In any case, what Lord JOHN RUSSELL will Whampoa from a small tributary stream
find himself compelled to do will be very much the flowing into the Tchioukiang ! Hence th•
standard from which our expectations must start. daggers secreted by the native sailors on board
He will have to offer something obviously superior the Thistle—the instruments of murder with
to his last abortion of February, 1854, and yet which they slit the throats of the English pas-
further no advance on his Bill of 1852 ; though sengers ! Hence, also, every tael, every mace,
in some respects the later measure was more favour- every candarin in the blood-money offered by
able to the country party than the earlier one. Per- YEH for the heads of Englishmen ! Atrocities,
haps, after such stormy events ashave engrossed our all these, quite upon a par with the stabbing of the
attention since 1854 the greater part of our readers wounded on the field of Balaklava, with the
I may have forgotten the principal points of • the brutal massacre of the. Turkish seamen surprised
bill which Lord JOHN RUSSELL withdrew amid and butchered in the bay of Sinope, or with the
many tears on the 11th of April that year. It dastardly ambuscade prepared at Hango Udd for
deprived the existing boroughs of sixty-two seats. the bearers of the flag of truce, under the shelter
Twenty-nint were taken from nineteen boroughs, of which symbol, a symbol hitherto regarded as
whose population did not amount to 5,000, or almost sacred among civilised nations, a boat's crew
their electors to 300. Thirty-three were taken of British sailors were either captured or assassi-
from as many other boroughs which returned two nated ! Like Russians—like Chinese ! Both have
members each, but whose electors were below proved themselves, and that moreover very recently,
500, and their population below 10,000 ; by de- equally beyond the shadow of a doubt to be bar-
priving them each of one member. These seats barians. It is the misfortune of England that
were redistributed as follows : twice of late she has had to contend in arms—
EIGHT boroughs, with a population above not with true men, but—with savages ! With
100,000, three Members each, instead the Chinese Savages she is still contending. Let
of two 8
her deal with them as savages only are to be dealt

Thirty-seven counties, or divisions of coun-
ties, with a population of 100,000 37
The West Riding of York and South Lan-
cashire, subdivided, each division three
Members
Three new boroughs
Kensington and Chelsea 2
Salford, one additional
The Inns of Court
London University

with Not with diplomacy—not with concilia-
tion. For such would prove by its results to be
only folly and cruelty, and something little short
of absolute madness; ending, as it could only end,
in a more lavish expenditure of blood and trea-
sures. Dealing with the Chinese not thus,
but with a stretched out Arm of Might,
—with a strong, a vigorous, an overwhelm-
ing warlike demonstration. A bold policy
like this, with such a people and at such a
time, is always the most humane in the end ; it
is always the most rational and the most prudent.
It is the policy, moreover, best befitting the dig-
'laity of the realm, the honour of the Crown, the
glorious and historical reputation of the country.
Beyond which—simply as a means to an end—it is,
more strictly speaking, a Peaceful Policy than a
Warlike Policy. Happily for England it is the
policy resolved upon, we believe, at this time by
Lord PAIXERSTON'S Government—a Government
determined, at any rate, to signalise itself before
the world by extinguishing the Chinese War
by means of some resolute demonstration.

It is, of course, evident enough that of the mem-
bers taken from the boroughs exclusively, more
than two-thirds were handed over to the counties.
They were made stronger in a division of country
against town by NINETY ♦OTES !
The franchise was extended in counties to ten
pound householders (clear yearly value of 101.)

and iniboroughs to persons dwelling in houses
rated to the amount of 61. to the relief of the poor, ,
if they had been occupiers for two full years
and seven months. Other classes of votes were
alio created, most of whom would be included in
the above. Persons receiving a salary (not wages)
of 1001. a year, or 101. annually for certain kinds
of stock, SEC., or paying 40:s. yearly direct taxes,
or being a graduate in a University, or a depositor
three consecutive years in a savings bank to the
amount of 501. The beat feature in the bill was
the abolition of the Rate-paying clauses. How is
it they have been tolerated so long, as means of
annoyance or of unjust disfranchisement? The
most novel and ridiculed portion of the bill
was the clause which created minority members
(111.111.P.'s) by allowing persons t) vote for only
two members out of three, where the constituency
returned three.

Early in the last session of the defunct Parlia-
ment the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for
the University of Dublin proposed a resolution
for an Address to the Crown, praying that " her
MAJESTY would be graciously pleased to take into
consideration, as an urgent measure of Adminis-
trative _Reform, the formation of a separate and
responsible department for the affairs of public
justice." This proposition was unanimouly car-
ried. The Attorney-General, who took exception
merely to the words we have paced in italics,
cordially assented to the spirit of the resolution ;
and, on ascertaining the clearly-expressed opinion
of the House, permitted the motion to be carried
in its original form without a division, while the
Premier declared that "the matter should receive
the serious attention of the Government." The
nation has, therefore, the strongest reason to ex-
pect that this voluntary pledge will be fully and
fairly redeemed, and that " a separate and respon-
sible department of public justice" will be consti-
tuted without any unnecessary delay.

The inconsistent position of a large number of
towns under the proposed Bill we illustrated by
exact tables at the tine. Some twenty-six
towns were to return but one member, all
of which surpassed, in electors, many which re-
turned two members ; some of them exceeding
not fewer than fifty-four of those deemed worthy
of two totes in the council of the nation. Up-
wards of forty boroughs, of between 7;000 and
10,000 inhabitants, had no member, and twenty-
two, with a population of between 10,000
and 16,600, ware also unrepresented ; and
that while forty-five seats were taken from
towns and handed over to the counties ! Such
were some of the leading features of Lord JOHN'S
THIRD Reform Bill. It is needless to observe
that it said nothing of shortened duration of
Parliaments, of abolition of property qualification,
and of vote by ballot. How far will Lord JOHN
surpass himself to become once more the aristo-
cratic tribune of the people ? How far will there
be rivalry or conspiracy between him and Lord
PALMERSTON ? How far will he think it worth
while, with his last chance before him, to finish
political life as the never-to-be-forgotten Reformer
of the House of Commons, or the pitied repre-
sentative of antiquated Whiggisna ? Questions
these which a session or two will probably decide.

We fear, however, that there may be a serious
obstacle to the efficient execution of this unanimous
resolution. Lord CRANWORTH is by no means
disposed to relieve himself and his successors of
the labours wide]; from other multifarious avoca-
tions, he is unable to perform. He wishes rather
" to build on ancient foundations" than to erect a
new edifice suitable to the emergency. The
measure which he proposes merely applies to
the mechanism of legislation. It is generally
believed that he contemplates the appointment of
"an Examiner of Public Bills, with a staff cf
competent officers to superintend the construction
of Acts of Parliament." Now this would go but
a very short way in providing for the exigency.
It would, doubtless, give some additional patron-
age to the Noble Lord, but that is all. Some
of the glaring mistakes which Lord BROUGHAM
and many of the Judges have repeatedly deplored
might be avoided. But there would be no di-
recting and responsible head, who would be bound
to introduce the measures so urgently required.
It would apply to details rather than to princi-
ples. The anomalies so clearly explained by the
Attorney-General, in his speech. on the motion,
would still remain without any guarantee for their

Yesterday we transferred to our columns from
those of our Gallic contemporary, the Moniteur
de la Flotte, some very startling particulars de-
monstrative of the energetic course adopted by
the Chinese in the development of their warlike
demonstrations. It appears from these latest
advices from the present seat of war in the East,
that the Chinese, in their defensive operations, are
not one jot lend barbarous, less savage, or less
dastardly than the Muscovites themselves ; and
surely that is saying a vast deal of their savagery
and. rascality as antagonists'! To speak of a perfect
parity of this kind as discernible at a glance be-
tween the Russians and the Chinese is to dub the
latter base and villainous ! It is to designate
them—point blank—" Foemen unworthy of our
steel !" It is to liken them at once to cut-throats
and assassins—to men without a sense of probity,
of honour, of magnanimity—in one word, to
barbarians ! Positive proof in regard. to all this
we have had, very recently, in abundance. For
example—if the Russians, when their territories
are invaded, by reason of their own want of faith,
or because of some flagrant incursion of theirs into
their neighbours' territory, resort to the savage
and desperate course of setting a whole city, and
that city, as in 1812, the capital of their empire,
in flames—doing this deed of infamy by torches
placed in the hands of Thieves and Prostitutes !
If such is notoriously the savage course pursued
by the Russians in every such emergency—the
plan adopted in a similar crisis by the Chinese is
not one iota less dark or less execrable in its
atrocity. The Chinese effect by the removal of
the floodgates what the Russians. effect by the
kindling of a conflagration. They save them-
selves by devastating a whole province, by
laying the countryside under water, by ruin-
ing families, by destroying crops, by put-
ting a total stop, for the time being, to all indus-
try, both commercial and agricultural. The great
Defensive Weapon of the Russian is the flambeau
of an EROSTRATUS That of the Chinese is the
no less criminal hand that gives the signal for an-
Inundation ! Directly an army invades the
Empire—one of the three branches of the Pei-ho

early removal.
So long as the political and judicial functions
•f the Lord Chancellor are blended, it is impos •
sible that he, or indeed any single man, can
efficiently discharge all the duties. As a Cabinet
Minister, and Speaker of the House of
Lords, he has ample occupation. But he
is also bound to act as a judge both in the Court
of Chancery and in the appellate tribunal of the
Upper House. In that capacity also he has quite
enough to do. It is therefore almost needless to
say that he cannot bestow the attention so urgently
required on the defects of the law, or the modifi-
cations and changes so imperatively required to
keep up with the spirit of the age. It is not
against Lord CRANWORTH, but the system, that
we direct these observations. We believe any
other man that could be found would be incapable
of sustaining the burden that now rests on his
shoulders.

For what is now demanded at his hands ? It

is not only the effectual administration of
justice in all its departments, but also the super-
intendence and effectual carrying out of the pro-
cess of the amendment of the law, and the giving
prompt, effectual, and complete assistance to the
business of current legislation. In the latter
portion the United Kingdom is far behind every
other nation. Our Legislation, like other matters,
is in a great degree left to " private enterprise,"
and, save in questions that have been what is
teohnicallytermed " taken up by the Government,'
there is, generally speaking, a complete failure—
a very decided " break down." An independent
Member will have quite enough to do in obtain-
ing the legislative sanction to the principles
which he advocates, without being obliged either
to perform the mechanical part of the operation

himself, or to pay largely for the professional
assistance he must obtain in order to have it effi-
ciently performed. It is quite sufficient that he
should be the "architect," without also being the
" builder," and even the " bricklayer," to carry
his designs into practical execution !
They do these things better in France. There
they have a Minister of Justice, and here we want
a similar officer, whose attention shall be exclu-
sively directed to the department. We care not
by what designation he may be known, provided
the necessary work be performed. Practically
what is required is the separation of the political
and judicial functions of the Lord Chancellor, and
that we hope and believe will be finally demanded
by the new Parliament in accordance with the
resolution unanimously and unhesitatingly carried
on the 12th of February, 1857.

LATEST NEWS•'

COPENHAGEN, APRIL 14.

The Facdrelan,det announces that the Ding has
successively called on M. Blulime, and afterwards
on M. Tilliscb, to form a Ministry. It is said that
the former has refused, but the answer of the latter
is not known.

It is not probable that the old Ministry will re-
main in office.

Speaking of the late arrests in Paris, the Tinies
correspondent (second edition) says :

" A few more arrests were, it is said, made yes-
terday and the day before. 1 have not noticed the
various stories, some of them extravagant enough,
which have been current about these arrests. It is
hardly necessary to say that secret societies never
wholly disappear in France. They may be more or
less quiet—more or less dangerous—more or less
withdrawn from the public eye, but they do nob
cease to exist, and their influence is never wholly
unfelt. When a certain time elapses, and when a
movement is observable, the 'authorities think it
useful to lay their hands on a few dozens. To do
this it is necessary to entice them out of their
hiding-places, as rats are coaxed out of their holes. In
the meantime the traps are prepared, and as the con-
spirators become visible or tangible, they are caught
when least aware of their danger. The ratcatchers
in the present instance have been rather successful,
though it is probable that at least one-third of the
arrested are agents of the secret police. I believe
these arrests to be nothing more than one of those
sweepings which take place every now and then.
The principal charge against the persons now in
custody is for conspiring with a view to an attempt
on the person of the Emperor. M. Treilhard is
the magistrate who is charged with investigating
the offences of which they are accused."

FRANCE.

PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVF.NING.

Their Majesties yesterday received M. de la
Torre Ayllon, the Spanish minister at Lisbon, and
Mme. de la Torre Aylion, who were presented by
the Spanish ambassador.
The Grand Duke Constantine is expected at Tou-
lon on the 20th or 21st. He will proceed at once to
Marseilles on board of the Reine Horteuse, and
review the fleets and examine the docks and ar-
senals. The next day he will proceed to Lyons, but
will not stop there any time ; he will pass the
night at Chalons-sur-Saone. He intends to inspect
with much attention the well-known foundries of
the Creasol (Saone-et-Loire). He will be here about
the end of the month and will take up his quarters
at Fontainebleau, where great preparations are
making to receive him and his suite.
General Todtleben has presented the Emperor of
the French with a copy, magnificently bound, of his
journal of the siege of Sebastopol, kept by himself
day by day. This most interesting dairy is written
in Russian, with a French translation in each page.
The Minister of Marine had a brilliant reception
last night, at which numerous Russian officers were
present.
The Committee of Defence, which is composed of
military men of high rank, on the question of the
projected lines of railroad in Russia being brought
before it, have expressed the opinion that these
lines of communication are of a decidedly strategic
character, and that, by the facilities they afford,
from 85,000 to 100,000 men could be transported
from various points of the Empire to Kaffa in eight
days. The concession for these lines was obtained
by M. de Moray.
The Moniteur publishes the official return of the
taxes and indirect revenue for the first quarter of
1857, as compared with the corresponding period
of 1856. The items which show the greatest
improvement are Duty on potable liquors,
3,655,000 fr. ; import duty on different merchan-
dise, 3,384,000 fr. ; ditto on foreign sugar,
1,480,000 fr. ; duty on manufacture of beetroot
sugar, 1,267,00 fr. ; sale of tobacco, 1,935,000 fr. ;
registration dues, 727,000 fr. ; salt duty (consump-
tion), 458,000 fr. ; stamp duty, 403,000 fr. ; import
duty on French colonial sugar, 329,000 fr. ; sale of
gunpowder, 274,000 fr. ; Post-office, 103,000 fr. ;
import duty on corn, 46,000 fr. ; navigation dues,
43,000 fr. ; transmission of money, 13,00Jfr. The
only items of revenue which show a falling off are
—Conveyance by malles-posts, 32,000 fr. ; sundry
customs duties, 20,000 fr. ; and accidental receipts,
19,000 fr. On these returns the Moniteur remarks
as follows :

"It results from these figures :-1. That the produce
of the first quarter of 1857 exceeds by 14,202,0001. that
of the corresponding quarter of 1856. 2. That this aug-
mentation would have been 16,886,000 f. if the yearlBs6
h,i.d ❑ot been leap year. 3. That in this increase the
Month of March stands for 7,49,000 f."
The Univers affirms that the rumour of an at-
tempt at reconciliation between Piedmont and the
Pope, mentioned by the Nord of Brussels, is devoid
of foundation.
BOURSE, April 15.—The following were the last
quotations :

End of Mouth.
—fr. -G.
70 20

Cash. fr. c.
4i per Cents
3 per Cents 7O
Now Loan —
Bank Shares 4,600 Roman
Credit Mobilier 1,405 Austrian
Belgian 44
Piedmontese (5) 9o.f— Home Debt
RAILWAYS—FOR CASH.

fr. c. fr c
Orleans 1,502A— Western
Northern l,OlO Strasburg
Lyons 1,585 New Ditto 8—
Mediterranean 2,150 Grand Central 0—
Lyons Geneva
Midi

amount of honour, and which will unite the esteem and London were quoted 531, with money over, and a
confidence of Europe to the sympathy with. which you scat\;ity of paper ; Paris, 533, in demand ; Ham-
have already known how to inspire Lir. Al the !'i:iiAi-i- burg, 471- to 47i, in demand.
hers of the commission of which I form pan; ~,iil, The Warner -Genova, from the Brazils., put into
I ati3 persuaded, regard with attentive impartiaiity all
' Lisbon on the Bth for coals. She left Rio eight
that may pass either far from or near to the capital •;
days after the Tamar. Her dates were—Rio de
and will act in common accord, and in conformity with 1 Janeiro
March 5 • Bahia, 10th ; Pernambuco, 14th
their instructions, in all circumstances which may attract 1
i St. Vincent, 28th ; Madeira, April 5.
I their attention, nod which may, appear contrary to the
spirit which has dictated their mission. For my own 1 The mail steamer Medway arrived at Pernam-
part, gentlemen, you may ha certain that I will always , buco on the sth, and was expected at Rio in time
add good intentions to the zsal and enlightened expo; ' to leave for Southampton on the 17th.
1 rience of my colleagues." Sugars in active demand at Pernambuco, and an
advance on browns. Freights dull. Exchange
27id. Yellow fever had quite disappeared, and
Pernambuco healthy.
At Bahia sugars also in active demand. No
cotton on hand. Freights to London, 40s. ; Liver-
pool, 30s. ; the Channel, 455. Exchange 280.
Gibraltar Exchanges, on the 4th of April, were—
London, 51td. t0.510. ; Paris, sf. 360.

RUSSIA.

A letter from St. Petersburg, in the Dads,
says first Russian conquest of territory to
the north of Lake Aral dates from 1846. The
Emperor Nicholas, encouraged by the favourable
reports of officers employed in Asia, appointed in
1848 and 1849 a scientific commission under Cap-
tain Bulakow, of the navy, to explore Lake Aral,
and afterwards take a position on the northern
shore. The commission was provided with the
necessary force to overcome any resistance which
might be offered. After going through incredible
fatigues, the commission discovered three pre--
viously unknown islands in the lake, and the
soil of which was fertile. They were taken
possession' of in the name of the Emperor,
and the Russian flag planted on them. In
the course of the ensuing year several points on
these islands were fortified, and a military force
established there. These islands are now protected
from any attack on the part of the princes of the
country. • The fortress of Aralsk is armed with 42
pieces of artillery-, and has a garrison of 1,000 men
well supplied with stores of every description by
means of the steamers on the Caspian Sea."

ELECTION OF SCOTTISH _REPRESERT-4-

TIVE .PEERS.

The election of 16 Peers to represent Scotland in
the ensuing Parliament took place'on Tuesday
within the Picture Gallery of Holyrood-house.
Prineipalk-e °petrol the proceedings with prayer.
Mr. John Russell read the Royal proclamation
appointing the election, as also a certificate that the
'proclamation had been read at the Cross of Edin-
burgh.

. The following 18 peers answered to their names :
The Duke of Atholl, the Duke of Montrose, the
Marquis of Tweeddale the Marquis of Lothian, the
Earl of Morton, the Earl of Perth, the Earl of
Lauderdale, the Earl of Wemyss and March, the
Earl of Airlie, the Earl Of Leven and Melville, the
Earl of Kintore, the Earl of Seafield, Viscount
Strathallan, Lord Blantyre, Lord Colville of Cul-
ross, Lord Belhaven and Stenton, Lord Rollo, and
Lord Polwarth. The oaths of allegiance, supre-
macy, and abjuration were administered to and.
subscribed by these peers.
Their votes were then called for by signed lists,
which each peer first read and then hauded in to
the clerks. All of the lists contained the names of
the 16 peers who represented Scotland in the House
of Lords in the last Parliament—namely, the Mar-
quis of Tweeddale, the Earl of Morton, the Earl of
Home, the Earl of Strathmore, the Earl of Airlie,
the Earl of Leven and Melville, the Earl of Sel-
kirk, the Earl of Orkney, the Earl of &afield,
Viscount Strathallan, Lord Grey, Lord Sinclair,
Lord Elphinstone, Lord Colville of Culross, and
Lord Blantyre, and Lord Pulwarth.
' ia, r. Russell then declared the 16 Peers named
duly returned to serve in the ensuing Parliament,
and signed and sealed the return in the customary
:orm.
The assemblage then dispersed.

EDUCATION IN THE ARMY.

GENERAL ORDER.

HORSE GUARDS, S.W., 9th April, 1857.
His Royal Highness the General Commanding-
in-Chief having had under his serious consideration
the question of Army Education, e4pecially as re-
lating to qualifications for staffs appointments, is
pleased to promulgate, for general information,
that from and alter the Ist of January, 1858, -Li •
undermentioned acquirements will be considered
indispensable before appointment to the situations
annexed.

Every officer, before appointment, will be re-
quired to undergo an examination on the subjects
mentioned, in such manner as shall be hereafter
announced.

This regulation is not intended to affect officers
now on the staff.

QUALIFICATIONS OF IgT.AFF OFFICMS.

To write a distinct and legible hand, and com-
pose English correctly.
To have a good colloquial knowledge of one
foreign language.

To have a good eye for a country, and to be able
to produce an intelligible sketch of it.
To know the use of the sketching compass, or
pocket sextant—in order to lay down and protract
the leading features of the country to be described.
To have a thorough knowledge of regimental
duty,—and tactics, and field movements on an ex-
tended scale.

Also a knowledge of field fortification, both' as
regards construction and correct description on re-
connaissance.

To have all the qualifications of a good adjutant

—the same acquirements as are exacted from an
aide-de camp—and a thorough knowledge of mat-
tart' law, and the Army and War-office regulations.
The following further acquirements will be re-
quired to qualify for Deputy-Assistants Adjutant
General, and Deputy-Assistants Quarter Master
General, v i z.:—

Practical sketching, both on horseback, called
" flying sketching," as well as correct and finished
plotting ; practical trigonometry and geometry,
with knowledge of logarithms.
To write, read, and speak at least one foreign
language—to . judge of ground and its proper
occupation by all arms ;—to have a perfect know-
ledge of castrametation, and the principles of per-
manent fortification ;
And to be thoroughly acquainted with geography
and military history,—especially as relates to the
campaigns of ancient and modern commanders.
To the whole of the foregoing will be added for
Assistants Adjutant and Assistants 44uarter-Master
General, the elements of mechanics, hydrostatics,
and geology ;—the construction of military bridges,
dams, dre. ;—an aquaint .nce with the principles of
strategy ;—and statistics of the army.
All staff officers should be able to ride well.
By command of his Royal Highness, the General
Commanding-in-Chief,.
G. A. WETHERALL, Adjutant-General.