The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-23 00:00:00

L )\tiON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1867.

Scarcely eleven days more and Parliament will
again have assembled. It is unlikely, however,
that the legislative session of 1857 will be opened
in person by the SOVEREIGN. The anticipation
of a very different event in all likelihood preclud-
ing her MAJESTY from thus favourably inaugurat-
ing with the customary royal pageant the dull
debates afterwards fated to resound during 84)
many tedious months in the ear of the country
from that gorgeous Legislative Palace at West-
minster, whic!i annually proves to JOHN BULL
(thanks to the reverberating echoes of the gallery)
a veritable Cave of TROPHONIUS.

The subject of the principal discussions in the
Lords and Commons may be very readily, of
course, anticipated. It may be cJejectured, with-
out any very extraordinary exercise of sagacity,
that the majority of those prominent themes of
debate will be rapidly foreshadowed in The
Speech from the Throne, that labyrinthine puzzle
of Ministerial platitudes and political generalities!
As to our foreign relations, we shall at any
rate be denied this once the repetition of that old
stereotyped phrase in which the Crown felicitates
the country upon the continued amity preserved
among the Family of Sovereigns. There will be
a little exultation, of course, at the reference
which must inevitably be made to the friendly
close of the late sanguinary struggle with the
Russian AUTOCRAT. Satisfaction will be expressed
at the prosperous issue of the second and last of
the Paris Conferences. It will be speciously
hinted that the objects of the War have been
fully realised by the preservation to the Sublime
Porte of the integrity of its dominions. Compli-
mentary allusions may then follow as to the
continued maintenance of the Gallic Alliance,
notwithstanding every sinister effort to break
asunder the bonds of that noble and rational
friendship. It may be added that there are reasons
for allusions scarcely one iota less complimentary
to the Republican Government of Washington—a
Government whose momentary petulence in giving
Mr.(now SirJonx)CRAMPTON his abrupt exegnatur
has been in a manner obliterated from the re-
membrance of England by that act of most grace-
ful magnanimity the presentation to Queen
Vic-roma, in the name of the United States, of
her missing Arctic vessel " The Resolute !"
Notwithstanding the causes fur satisfaction, real
or imaginary, discoverable in the international
"situations" enumerated
friendly relations with Russiai,ninthtehe revivalrevival
ofof
friendly feelings with America, in the continuance
of friendly alliance with France—there are dis-
cerniLle still east, west, north, and south,
sources of no incobsiderable di,,quietnde. Italy
still groaning under the weight of her long
op-
pression. Lombardy silently writhing et the
passage through her fairest cities of the Alien
Prince to whom she is constrained to proffer the
homage of an ignominious allegiance. Hungary
mill
brooding reentfully over the crimes and the

treason which in 1849 brought to au end so dis-
astrous what had begun so auspiciously—her
grand, and heroic, and ever-memorable war of

liberation. Poland dead and buried long ago,
but still awaiting in her grave what sooner or
later will yet inevitably be heard—the sound of
the Trumpet which will be the signal for her
Resurrection. Switzerland but very recently
threatened by the wine-bibbing King of PRUSSIA,
and hardly even yet escaped from the perils of a
brutal coercion. Spaia with the rights of her
people and the prerogatives of her Crown now in
the clutch of O'DONNELL, LOW in the grasp of
NARvAEz—the bauble-stakes passed from hand
to hand by the Ministerial trickster ever playing
at Madrid a grand and desperate Game of political
Speculation. Thus much —in Europe. In Asia—
something wondrously different. Instead of merely
ominous discontent, open ruptures and sangui-
nary collision. War with Persia! War with China!
Canton bombarded. Bushire threatened with a
similar catastrophe. Troops marching from
British India against the SHAH—by the Bolan
Pass, under Colonel JACOB—by the Khyber Pass
under Brigadier CUAMBERLAYNE. The warlike Aff-
ghans—corumanded by the Ameers of Cabul, led on
by our former foe, but now our present ally, old
DOST MAHOMED—enrolled as our auxiliaries. The
Celestial Empire, simultaneously drawing down
upon its most salient points the thunders of our
ships of war—at the very time when it is itself
crumbling away under the decomposing influences
of a great politico-religious revolution.
These are among the international events—this
is, after all, " About the English" of the present
Situation of Things Generally—which will have

either collectively or individually, but at any rate

seriously and deliberately, to be taken within a
very few days into the consideration of the
British Parliament. Besides which, the Legisla-
ture will have almost immediately to take into

account matters of a still more imminent charac-
ter, affecting the nation, not merely in regard to

its foreign relations, but in reference to its inter.
nal Administration.

Prospects for Turkey brighten ; it may take a
long time, there as elsewhere, to put the right
man in the right place, and to keep him there.
In what may be called the SULTAN'S Cabinet, this
difficulty is augmented beyond anything experi-
enced in the other governments of Europe, by the
fact of each of the governments contending there

in the persons of their ambassadors to put the
man it thinks right at the head of the Turkish
Government. Only think of having the party
efforts of Whigs and Tories, Peelites and Radi-
cals, coinplicated by the interference of the French,
Prussian, and Austrian ambassadors, these ambas-
sadors having as much influence as those of Eng-
land, France, and Austria have just now at Con-
srantinonle ! Were such a state of things possible
here our eontemp3raries who rejoice in the mys-
teries of party tactics would never want topics of
speculation ; and with our natural fondness for

betting, we might even have in tinie a politica
Tattersall's.

What we refer to, however, is the hope sug-
gested by the movements of a better class than
the leaders of factions. Commerce will not be

kicked in and out of its position by the cunning
And tricks of in and ex• Court favourites, and it
seems likely now to supply Turkey with two things
which will indirectly, and, we believe, quickly
do more for its solid improvement than all the
Hatti Hnmayouns and Hatti Scheriffs issued under
the political compulsion of this or that ambassa-
dor. Turkey has wanted chiefly roads and a
sound currency. Bm.b. •appear lilrely to 1-,,..,,nn
furnished. The Ottoman Bank concession has
now been accepted, and the acceptance sent to
Constantinople; and there is every reason to
think that the business will be conducted on the
best principles, verified by the experience of the
Banks of England and France.
One of its most important objects is to regene-
rate the currency of the country. If it only avoid
speculation, and arrange well the details of this
transaction, a handsome profit to the shareholders,
may, it would seem, be realised from this source
alone. The currency consists of Treasury notes,

and depreciated coins of various kinds ; it is esti-
mated at about 8,000,000/. ; the specie part of that
sum amounting to about 2,000,000/. Both are to be
ultimately superseded by issues of bank notes
payable on demand, a privilege conceded to this
Bank only, and by a fresh issue, we presume, of
un-depreciated coin. Whatever amount, how-
ever, the Bank may have to issue, it is to become
practically a Government debt ; the Government

engaging to pay six per cent. interest upon it.
We need not trouble our readers with details of
the calculations ; suffice it to say, that well•informed
persons consider that the capital will, if this
business alone be judiciously conducted, realise
not less than 14 per cent. interest. The whole
Turkish empire will, in the meantime, acquire a
paper currency, which will probably in no great
time enjoy the confidence of its numerous races

from the Adriatic to the Euphrates ; while the

metallic currency will be preserved from depre-
ciation, on the part of the authorities if course,
and also on the part of the holders, who will not
venture to mutilate the coins of a vigilant corpo-
ration as they have done those of an nnbusiness-
like Government. There seems also every reason
to believe that, for purposes of trade generally,
the Bank must become the trusted medium of
trade with Turkey for the civilised world,

,hat it will, by acting on the same principles,

take rank with the other national Banks of
Europe, and will thus become the means of inde-
finitely facilitating commercial transactions. Tur-
key is a free-trade country, and will soon make
her great barbarian neighbour of the North look
small by her side.
Concurrently with the Bank, Turkey will pro-
bably now possess the new commercial roads which
have so expedited the traffic of civilised Europe.
The Euphrates Valley Line may now be consi-
dered as decided on, and must introduce a new
style of trade in that part of the East. It has
the guarantee of six per cent, from the Turkish
Government. Another railway has, however,
just been proposed, and we may say the concession
obtained by Mr. LAYARD, which has obtained a
yet more promising guarantee—the guarantee of
1,000,000/, of the shares having been taken by
the wealthy in Turkey itself, where we presume
the merits of the line can be best estimated by the
subscribers. The Turkish Government is strongly
in its favour, probably for military as well as com-
mercial reasons; and is ready to do everything in
the way of concession of land, timber, and all raw
material at its disposal, serviceable for the con-
struction of the line.

Its object is to connect the Danube, in the centre
of Bulgaria, before that river takes its long bend to

the north, with the port of Enos in the Archi-
pelago. It is proposed, therefore, that it shall
leave the Danube at Rustchuck or Silistlii,
and run as directly south as the passage of the
Balkans will permit, by Shumla and Adrianople
to Enos. There are no known engineering dim.
culties but the Balkans, which can hardly by any
Possibility equal those of the Alps. The greater part
of the territory througi which the line is to pass is
populous, very fertile, and ready for the entrance

of commerce, wan ting only the means of easy
transport of exports and imports. A very large
proportion of tlxe traffic of the Danube would also
avoid the long and perilous voyage through its
shallow mouths., and through the Black Sea and the
533. of Marniora. The facilities offered by the line
for the Danubian and Bulgarian corn trade, at all
seasons, would be very great. The line would, -f
course, in due time have branches to the capital
and to ()Ulm. towns ; it would be, indeed, the
Great Northern Trunk line for Turkey.

It will be an interesting fact, if while Russia
has been ro end "like a big beggarman " to all the ,
capitals of Europe, and has deservedly failed, be-
cause her o:aly object was a military one ; Turkey,
her despised neighbour, should get the capital to
execute a first-rate military line, because com-
merce, not ambition, is the mainspring of the en-
terprise. We cordially wish it success. Long,
long may it. be ere Russia get a railroad to Bessa-
rabia; but when she has done so, we trust it will
be to find all Europe interested more than ever in
keeping her from the Danube ; to find the men of
commerce demanding that the most exclusive of
nations sh ill not be suffered to molest her free-
trade neig]abour ; and also to find that Turkey
herself will be able, with railroad speed, to move
her troops to the Danube, and to renew the
Silistria.
triumphs of Kalafat, Oltenitin, and

The Society for Promoting the Amendment of
the Law hfis rendered important services to the
nation on I Ilan). occasions. There are few ques-
tions of legal reform that have not been greatly
elucidated by the indefatigable, although purely
gratuitous, labours of its members. Not only has
every serious abuse, and " their name is legion,"
been discussed, and clearly and distinctly ex-
plained, so that he " who runs may read," but
adequate r emedies have been suggested either for
the total removal or material diminution of the
glaring evils. In many instances Parliament has
adopted the propositions thus ventilated, and in
every case with unequivocal advantage to the
community‘. This extraordinary success has not
led to any diminution in its useful exertions. On
the contrary, it has been stimulated to fresh
efforts, and wo may safely predict that so long as
a single grievance can be discovered, so long wi 1
the Society be ready to investigate, report, and
discuss the subject, until the last remedial course
can be ascertained, and the Legislature guided on.

the proper path.
On Monday evening there was a numerous at-
tendance of members to receive the Report of the
Committee appointed to consider the Testamentary
Bills of last Session. There could scarcely be
conceived a more interesting subject. The pre-
sent system has been unanimously and unequivo-
cally condemned by all disinterested and unpre-
judiced persons. The only wonder is that the
" Augean stables" should so long have remained
uncleansed—that a. small clique should so long
have succeeded, not in hoodwinking the people,
for the evils have been patent and notorious, but
in evading the improvements that have from time
to time bee' suggested. Their mischievous ac-
tivity, unscrupulous cunning, and complete orga-
nisation, however, compensated for the paucity
of their numbers. They were thus enabled to
postpone the day of retribution, and to foil, if
they could not entirely shake off, their less dis-
ciplined opponents. This Fabian policy has,
however, had a double operation. Although it
prevented the much-required ameliorations for
the time, it has rendered the long-concentrated
vengeance more signal, and insured the total de-
struction of the incorrigible monster. All patties
—her MAJESTIeS Government, her MAJEst-ea
Opposition, and the independent Members, ad-
mirably represented by the Attorney-General, Sir
FITZROY RIELLY, And Mr. R. P. COLLIER—Concur
in the opinion that " no effectual scheme of Law
Reform, as applicable to wills and intesta-
cies, could be carried out, except by
depriving the Ecclesiastical Courts of all
jurisdiction in matters testamentary, by ignoring
the doctrine of bona notaiilia, and by breaking
down the monopoly of the doctors and proctors."
And this wise and salutary conclusion has received
the decided approval of the community at large,
with the insignificant exception of the above-
mentioned clique.

The promoters of the several bills, while agree-
ing that the same rule should be applicable to
real and personal property, and that, in certain
cases, there should be local administration, differed
materially in the details. The Attorney-General
and Sir FITZROY KELLY proposed the creation of
an entirely new court, which the former wished
to be one of Equity, or, in other words, a branch
of the Court of Chancery; the latter, one of
Common Law—while Mr. COLLIER would transfer
the business to existing tribunals—the Superior
Courts of Westminster or the County Courts,
according to the amount of property to be dealt
with. The Attorney-General and Sir F. KELLY
would also confer the entire testamentary juris-
diction on the new court, so that it should not
only confer probates and letters of administration,
but should also construe the terms of all wills,
adjudicate on the rights of legatees, and adminis-
ter the estates of deceased persons.

The Committee examine these various plans in
detail, and while they point out objections to each
scheme, they bring forward one of their own,
partly original, and partly taken from the propo-
sitions of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman. This
has been embodied in a series 0139 articles, or re•
solutions, moved by Mr. Pin TAYLOR, which, with
the Report, will be taken into consideration on
the 9th of February. The reasons on which those
changes are advocated- are very fully and clearly
set forth in the Report ; but we confess that,
although agreeing in many respects with the
Society, we cannot adopt all their views. They
are, however, well worthy of mature and attentive
consideration. Many of them may
be resorted to
with great advantage, while others are more
doubtful, and should certainly
recklessly carried into operation. not be hastily or
The chief point is as to the construction of the
new court, for the Committee totally dissent, and
on adequate grounds, from Mr. COLLIER'S sugges-
tion for transferring the
jurisdiction to the Supe-
rior Courts of Common Law. They desire the
appointment of a separate jurisdiction, which
should consist of three Judges—ono from each of
the superior courts—
who should still continue
menib2rs of their original courts, and when not
sitting as a Court of Probate transact business as
ordinary Common Law Judges. For this duty they
should receive no additional salary—the remain-
ing Judges making the arrangements rendered
necessary by their absence while engaged in testa-
mentary business. This
Would effect a saving of
some 5,6001. per annum. But, however desirable it
may be to practise economy, such a sum is a matter
of comparatively trivial importance when the vast
and complicated interests at stake are taken into
consideration. The proposed plan would be
subject to this serious objection, that the Court
should necessarily be closed while the different
Judges were on Circuit as well as during the
vacations that are iudisPensable, for " all work
and no play" would soon make even the Judicial
Jacks dull boys. The Court would thus be
necessarily closed nearly half the year) during

which time the most common form business, •
about which there was not the slightest difficulty,
could be suspended to the incalculable inconve-
nience of the families of deceased persons.
Supposing a testator died in the beginning of
July, just as the Judges of the Court were start-
ing on Circuit, not a single shilling could be
drawn from, the Bank, not an article could be
legally touched until the following November,
and tho same inconvenience would occur from the
begiraring of February until the middle of April.
Vai:i alone is fatal to that portion of the scheme
of the Committee, and renders the appointment of
an additional Judge a sine qua non.
We also strongly object to the transfer of con-
tentious business to the County Courts. We
have not, however, either time or space to set
forth the objections within the limits of a single
article. We shall do so, however, before the
time appointed for the discussion of the Report.
We believe that they will be found very urgent,
if not absolutely irresistible.