The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-02 00:00:00

THE SUN,. LONDON, TITITESDAY `EVENING, MAY 2, 1861.

1.11.111111111M11.0011•••••••••••••••Mialum.!••••7-.
every ship will bring _lldingspf some fatal col-
lision, Each party will be endeavouring to out-
strip the other in both attack and defence. The
PRESIDENT is daily receiving reinforcements at
Washington. He has issued a proclamation de-
claring a blockade of all the Southern ports ; and,
it is a remarkable fact, indeed, that the Govern-
ment of Washington, which refused to abolish
privateering when Europe asked it, has now pro-
claimed that it will seize and condemn, as pirates,
all vateer vessels which may be seized by
the Federal ships. In future, any power at war
with America has but resolutely to insist on fol-
lowing the lead of the Washington Government,
and the barbarous practice of privateering will be
banished from' civilised warfare.

It must be confessed that the clerical party, under
the lead of the Right Hon. BENJAMIN DISRAELI,
are consistent. If they signalise Wednesdays this
year by rejecting measures of religious liberty for
Dissenters, they are prepared also to refuse liberty
for themselves. Last night Mr. LOCKE KING
brought in a bill to give a little more liberty to
clergymen, but it fared much the same as Sir
MORTON PETO's bill to bestow a trifle more of that
favourite English privilege on Dissenting Teachers.
Clergymen are now, in one respect, it seems, very
much like paupers. They must keep to their parish.
If they attempted to preach and pray elsewhere,
the ecclesiastical courts, or powers of some sort,
would soon pass them home to their parish. The
Regulars of the Church of Rome can preach where
they like. Dissenting ministers of all sects, even
to lay preachers, like the honourable member for
Cambridgeshire, can preach where they please.
Only the clergyman of_tslA Established Church is
nailed to his parish.
Mr. KING tried to get a little freedom for them
last year, but failed. He has tried again this year
to obtain a less measure of liberty, but failed again ;
he modestly proposes that if an archbishop or a
bishop license a minister to preach or pray only—
not to venture on the administration of sacraments,
but only to speak as he best could in public to either
GOD or man—he might be permitted to do so.
Strike out the archbishop, said Sir G. C. LEWIS,
and I will assent. The par nobile .fratrum, Mr.
NEWDEGATE and Mr. SPOONER, for once differed,
the former being opposed to clerical liberty, the
latter in favour of it; so were other Liberal and
Tory members; but Mr. ESTCOURT, Lord J. MAN-
; NERS, and Mr. G. HARDY took up the cause of
keeping every clergyman to his own parish, and
"so the bill was lost."

Well, so let it be. Bishops, even, it seems, are
not fit to be trusted with the Government of the
Church and the liberties of the clergy. One would
have supposed that they were little likely enough
to license any clergyman to preach to the annoy-
ance of another clergyman in their dioceses. Most
of them love quiet too well for that. A smaller
amount of freedom than that claimed by some of
the speakers for laymen—the power to get the

services of some acceptable clergyman when their
own was offensive to them—we can hardly con-
ceive. We like all proposals for freedom of every
kind ; but if the clergy and the majority of the
laity are content with these restraints, they are
hardly worth the trouble of removing.

The Great Council of the Austrian Empire was
opened yesterday. As things stand we-can but
scrutinise closely and suspiciously all relating to
it; and yet, after all, who can reflect for a moment
on what Austria was before 1848, and what she
has been in the twelve years of reaction, and not
look with wonder on a Council meeting in Austria ;
and to hear one of the most absolute of Monarchs
telling that Council that he has sanctioned the
introduction of tried constitutional forms." A con-
stitution he has thus given his empire, according
to Mr. ROEBUCK, even more liberal than our OWL
On one point it is so, certainly. It allows of female
voting at elections.
When we look at the EMPEROR'S avowed reasons,
they are also far better than most would have anti-
cipated. He is "convinced that free institutions,"
" protection of the rights of nationalities," and the
" equality of citizens," will lead to a safe reorgani-
sation of the whole monarchy." He is so humble
and teachable that he " desires to learn positively,
through the mouths of the representatives of the
people, what they consider best for the welfare of
the people." And he thinks it " necessEtry to show
the world that political, national, and religious dif-
ferences do not form an insurmountable obstacle to
a national understanding." What ought we not to
expect from a council called for such reasons, and
in which free and public discussion is to be inau-
gurated in Austria ?
The testing question—the separate and indepen-
dent administration for Hungary—is, of course, not
directly adverted to. Indeed, we believe not a single
Hungarian representative is present in the Council;
and we are not sure that the annexed parts have
sent any. The EMPEROR could therefore, with
common prudence, speak only in the most vague
language. He trusts to the justice of his policy
and to the intelligence of the people, for " a satis-•
factory solution of the question of the representa-
tion of Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia, and
Slavonia." When they understand the real state
of things, he thinks they will approve of the insti-
tutions he has desired to confer on them. At least
he promises—what words from an Emperor of
Austria !—that "a liberal policy shall be equally
developed in all parts of the Empire, with special
regard for the historical traditions of the provinces."
But Hungary will not own herself to be a province ;
she is an independent Kingdom; respect for
historical traditions may be said to comprehend the
whole of her demands—a King, a Palatine, an
independent Ministry, a separate finance, and the
control of it, and the withdrawal of all
non-Hungarian troops are an undoubted part of
what she can historically, and even by recent laws
and treaties, justly demand. How- will these
demands be met ? The EMPEROR, though at com-
parative ease in Italy, yet will hardly dare to coerce
Hungary. Well for him if no evil counsellors
drive him to the attempt.
The Budget is to 'be submitted to this council.
Will the EMPEROR venture to include Hungarian
expenditure and taxation in it ? Not one moment
too soon does he endeavour to give to his Exche-
quer the credst it would gain from a budget•
voted by the entire provinces of the empire. Yet
it is remarkable enough to see such a thing
done in Austria. Two points in the Speech
seem to have especially called forth the
cheers of the Deputies—the allusion to liberal
institutions, and the assertion of the determination
to preserve the "inviolable foundation of the unity
and indivisibility of the whole monarchy," and to
repel any violation of the same as an attack
not only on the monarchy, but "on the
rights of all the provinces and nationalities,"
Hungary will ask, what right has any province
or nationality in the Austrian Empire, to require
of Hungary any other union than that shaped by
the Pragmatic Sanction, and interpreted by the
laws of 1848.

Mr. COBDEN'S VISIT TO ROCHDALE.—III aCCOre.
ance with Mr. Cobden's wish, the proposed banquet at
Rochdale will not take place. The hon. gentleman will be
received at a public meeting Qf the W 441.44103,

11-ATEST NE WS.

PARIS, MAY 2.

The Moniteur of to-day says :
" Yesterday the Plenipotentiaries of France and
Belgium signed a treaty of commerce, a convention
concerning navigation, and a convention for gua-
ranteeing literary, artistic, and industrial copy-
rights."

The Paris papers publish telegraphic despatches
from Constantinople to the 24th inst., announcing
a concentration of troops at Yenibazar against
Montenegro.-- The same telegram asserts that the
English and Turkish squadrons had received orders
to act in concert. The Turkish squadron has re-
ceived provisions from the arsenal of Corfu.

intelligencemf the-peoples, I expect a satisfactory
solution of the question of the representation of
Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia, and Slavonia.
" As soon as they shall understand the real state
of things they will be inspired with the necessity
for and the advantage of the institutions I have
granted, and will then justify my confidence by
their actions, and I shall see around me with the
greatest satisfaction the representatives of the
whole monarchy. I hope to enjoy undisturbed the
blessings of peace. Europe feels the same want, as
she wishes to repose from the agitation of recent
times, and to recover her equilibrium.
" This universal feeling imposes upon the Powers
the duty of not exposing the precious treasure of
peace to any danger.
" Austria acknowledges this duty, which has also
been admitted by the other Powers, in order to give
herself up to work for the general welfare.
"Estimates will be submitted to you for esta-
blishing an equilibrium between the income and
expenditure, and also proposals for the introduc-
tion of desirable modifications in some branches of
the revenue, and for the settlement of the relations
between the National Bank and the State."

The Emperor concluded as follows :
" I acknowlege the duty which, as a Sovereign, I
have assumed before sll nations, to protect with all
my power the Constitution of the whole Empire in
the sense of the diploma of October and February
last, as the inviolable foundation of the unity and
indivisability of the whole monarchy ; and it is my
firm intention to repel any violation of the same as
an attack on the existence of the monarchy, and on
the rights of all the provinces and nationalities."
The allusions to the unity of the Empire and the
liberal institutions granted to the country were
loudly applauded by the members.
Baron Vay and Count Szechen were present at
the opening of the Council,

FRANCE.

PARTS, MAY 1.

The Conference on the Franco-Belgian Treaty
met to-day to sign the minutes of its work, and
probably also the instruments on the drawing up
of which it has with so much labour agreed.
It may therefore be now said that the Conference
has achieved its important and difficult duty.
The following were the last quotations :
ft per per Cents ... 95 60 , Credit Fonder
Do. end month.... 95 651 Belgian 4}..
3 per Cents
Do. end month 69 15 Roman
Bank Shares .. 2830 —1 Austrian
Credit Mobilier.... 707 501 Spanish Threes 4B 50
Do. Account 7lO —lHome Debt