The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-20 00:00:00

some of the rules of Parliamentary procedure, The
nuisance has at length reached to such a point that it
can no longer be endured. Although matters of the
deepest and most vital importance to the welfare and
prosperity of the nation are necessarily postponed
from want of time for their due consideration, we
daily find that many valuable hours are wasted
through the wanton and capricious conduct of some
of the chosen representatives of the people. Such
acts might not be wondered at if proceeding from a
set of foolish schoolboys, indifferent to future conse-
quences, but they are rather out of place in Mem-
bers of a grave Legislative Assembly, entrusted
with the discharge of arduous and honourable duties.
It may be very well to prevent a division from taking
place when there is but a thin attendance, or to sus-
pend proceedings if at least forty Honourable Gen-
tlemen should not be in their places, until a proper
number should assemble ; but it is monstrous to ter-
minate the sitting because some prosing orator has
succeeded in wearying his audience, and driving
them from the House until his tedious harangue may
be expected to be approaching to its conclusion•
Day after day is thus lost to the country, and the
session is most unnecessarily protracted to afford a
puerile triumph to some children of larger growth.
We have already alluded .to the abortive attempt
at counting out on Thursday night, during the speech
of Sir FREDERICK THESIGER on the Marriages Act.
It was by the merest accident that the ruse was de-
feated on that occasion, and that the House was not
compelled to separate in the midst of its deliberations
on a question of the deepest interest to the com-
munity in general, and against the wishes of
a large majority. The subsequent divisions
clearly showed that the want of attendance for a
brief period was not through any carelessness on the
subject. On the first division no less than 183 Mem-
bers voted, and on the second the number was in-
creased to 281, and yet the " surprise" was all but
successful. On the following evening, when the
First Lord of the Treasury had, in one of the most
brilliant and effective speeches ever heard within the
walls of Parliament, brought forward a subject of
paramount importance, not only to Ireland, but to
the United Kingdom, a similar attempt was barely
defeated, although 234 Members shortly afterwards
voted on the question of adjournment. Thus, a
" Government night" was nearly thrown away, not-
withstanding the well-known influence of the whip-
per-in, whose perplexity at the unexpected demand
was perfectly ludicrous. Again, on Thursday
evening, a wise and salutary 'measure was retarded
through the abuse of the power of moving the ad-
journment of the House. The Hon. Gentleman the
Member for Athlone, who has evinced the most
praiseworthy zeal in forwarding legal reforms, moved
the second reading of the Court of Prerogative
(Ireland) Bill. His object was to establish a general
Court of Probate, and to effect some much-required
alterations in the mode of procedure of the court.
It was intended, after the second reading, to refer
the measure to a Select Committee, so that the most

ample consideration would be secured for the mea-
sure. We should have supposed that there could be
but little objection to the principle of such a Bill ;

:hat few could be found anxious to defend such

lucrative sinecures as the Registrarships of these courts.
But Honourable G-entlemen appeared indifferent
to such considerations. The adjournment of the de-
bate was first moved and rejected by a considerable
majority ; it was immediately afterwards moved,
and by the same Right Hon. Member, " that the
House do now adjourn," and again on a division it
was found that there were but 20 in favour of the
proposition, while 95 voted against it. These deci-
sive majorities were not, however, sufficient to deter
the factious minority. There was another division
and the same 20 persons again walked into the lobby,
while no less than 83 appeared at the other
side. A similar motion was again moved, and
a Right Honourable Gentleman, from whom we should
have expected better things, expressed a hope that
the obstructives—whom, in a rich vein of satire, he
designated as the " Spartan Band,"—would persevere
in dividing the House until the second reading was
postponed. The allusion was certainly appropriate.
He might have exclaimed—
" Of the three hundred, grant but three
To make a new Thermopyhe."
For even three of the " Spartans" would be sufficient
to defeat all the power of the Government, sustained
by the strongly expressed wishes of the entire House.
But seriously, we ask, should such proceedings be
sanctioned or tolerated in the middle of the nineteenth
century ? The absurdity of the rules can best be un-
derstood from the examples we 'have cited. The
voice of public opinion has already been heard in fa-
vour of the changes that may be necessary to remove
the delays and embarrassments that have so mate-
rially retarded the dispatch of public business; and, to
enable the Legislature to discharge its multifarious
and important duties without hindrance or ob-
struction, we would deprive the " Spartan
youths" of the mischievous weapons which
they wield so recklessly. We would suggest that
where it is required that the House should be
counted that the sitting should only be suspended,
and that business should be resumed when forty
Members were in attendance. And we would adopt
the Speaker's proposition, " that no motion for
an adjournment should be made within one hour after
the House bad decided against a similar proposal,"
and also " that no division on the question should be
allowed unless twenty-one Members by standing in
their places should declare themselves with the ayes."
By such means alone will the existing anomalies be
removed, and the representative branch of the Legis-
lature
_prevented from being scandalized in the eyes of
the community.

As friends of education, wo are delighted to find
that the project for the institution of the Royal
Panopticon of Science and Art will most probably be
carried into execution in the course of the ensuing
year. It will constitute a very suitable memorial Of
the Grand Industrial Exhibition of 1851, and will pro-
bably form a permanent receptacle for many of the
works to be then exhibited. There is one portion of
the plan which we think worthy of especial com-
mendation, and which is thus developed in the pro-
spectus : .

" A plan will be introduced whereby a great impedi-
ment to the success of mechanics' and other scientific
institutions, particularly in the country, will be removed.
It has been found that the funds of such societies are
seldom sufficient to enable them to procure the apparatus
and appurtenances proper for the illustration of their
lectures; and that such lectures are consequently in a
great measure divested of interest, by want of the neces•
sary experimental elucidation. This is also the ,case
with lecturers, schoolmasters, and persons generally
devoted to scientific pursuits. To meet this difficulty, it
is proposed to form a large collection of apparatus, suit-
able to the illustration of lectures in every branchl of
natural and experimental science. This apparatus will
be lent out on hire upon very moderate terms."
This is an excellent and novel idea, and, if properly
carried out, will do more to popularize science than
any plan that has been proposed of late years. The
Panopticon, which will combine the chief features
of a public exhibition and a private society, will
have a department specially devoted to the teaching
of mechanical engineering, including the principles
and construction of agricultural implements, and will
thus supply a want which has long been felt and
acknowledged. The names associated with the insti-
tution (names illustrious alike in rank and in
science) are a sufficient guarantee that no pains will
be spared to carry
from the este-
possible manner, a
nodutthutshetousnedcuerrteakng in the
toithemetropboeisits
ab s thhme
eandt v
o f antt ah gi ss
e xt
chealtl ecnatn i nb se t idteurtiivoend.

DEATH OF THE EARL OF Roscommorr —The Earl
of Roscommon died on Wednesday last at Blackrock, near
Dublin. His Lordship was in the 52d year of his age. He
isws
Shrewsbury,
ee
w.s marriedbnuirt
swhlBihp3oom is t
he
ea
said
tdos i stllt earivoeonf, b
etselti
niel
ipbhroee
ms el n,a
last
oEO afortl of
thheei
ancient line of the Roscommon family.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY BOAT .RACE.—The races
terminated on Friday evening. The first three boats main-
tained their position. Oriel broke a rowlock, and was
bumped in consequence by Worcester near the Cherwell ;
University bumped Pembroke at the same place; Exeter
bumped Christchurch under the Willows ; and Jesus bumped
Trinity. The following is the respective position of the
beats:-1. Wadham. 2. Baliol. 3. Brasenose. 4. Wor-
cester. 5. Oriel. 6. Lincoln. 7. Exeter. 8. Christchurch.
9. St. John's. 10. University. 11. Pembroke. 12. Mer-
ton. 13. Queen's. 14. Jesus. 15. Trinity. 16. Exeter
(2d). 17. Magdalen Hall. 12. Christchurch (2d).
DEPARTURE OF THE ASIA.--LIVERPOOL, SATUR-
DAY EVENING..—The British and American Royal Mail
steam-ship Asia, Captain Judkins, set • out on her first
voyage across the Atlantic this afternoon. - She carries out
a large number of passengers, and the usualweeklymmalitls;
the latter ill charge of Lieutenant. Ellis, 8.N., Admiralty
v gent.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
We have received the Paris journals of Saturday
and yesterday.
On Saturday the report on the Electoral Law was
read in the National Assembly by M. LEON Fan-
CHER, and urgency was demanded, the discussion of
which is fixed for Tuesday. M. LAMARTINE, 11.
EMANUEL Aneno, and upwards of twenty Members
inscribed themselves to speak on the question of
urgency before the sitting terminated.
The French Government and their organs do not
appear to attach the importance to the recall of M.
DROWYN DE L'HUYS which some of the over zealous
organs of the Absolutist party in this country would
fain make the world believe is attached to it. The
Constitutionnel, the organ of the Ministry, thus al-
ludes to the subject
The French Government is in the clearest and most
favourable position possible; its fairness, its perfect good
faith, its spirit of conciliation, are beyond all doubt. It
is not it which owes explanations—they are due to it. It
has therefore called on the English Government to give
them, by withdrawing its ambassador. This recall
amounts to saying that the circumstances which led to the
failure of the negotiations at Athens and London are sur-
rounded with so much obscurity as to require the French
Government, for the sake of its own dignity, and with a
view to its future conduct, to learn in a precise and public
way what are the veritable causes of the failure, and
what part of responsibility falls on each. If from the ex-
planations which shall be publicly given before the repre-
sentatives of each of the two countries, and before Euro-
pean opinion, it shall manifestly appear that the Mi-
nister of Foreign Affairs ofEngland has displayed in the
negotiations the sincerity, the cordiality, and the entire
uprightness which the French Cabinet has incontestably
done, and that the failure of the negotiations is owing to
a fact neither prepared nor calculated, but absolutely
independent of its will, nothing will prevent the imme
diate resumption of friendly relations between the two
Cabinets. If it shall appear, on the contrary, from the
discussions, that the conduct of the English Ministry has
not completely corresponded to the fair way of acting of
the French negotiators, it will be useless to resume with
this Minister the intimate relations of which experience
will have shown the inefficacity to produce anything sa-
tisfactory. The two nations will listen, not with in-
difference, but with calm, to this debate, and each will
be the judge of its Government. They are connected
by so many great interests, and united by so many com-
mon opinions, that they must both be equally desirous
of preserving concord and peace. They would salute
with the same pleasure the resumption of the good re-
lations which consolidate the union of France and
England, and will see with the same regret the pro-
longation of the interruption of the diplomatic relations
which weaken this union."
The Journal des Pebats, the organ of the Bur-
graves, the masters of the Ministry, thus comments
on the return of M. DROUYN DE L'Huys :
" We cannot conceive the excessive alarm which cer-
tain persons feel at the consequence which might result
from this deplorable incident. The attitude of the
Bourse shows that in general public opinion does not
attribute to it any greater bearing than is proper; but
it is not the less true that it is sought to spread the re-
port of extraordinary armaments which had been or-
dered in the ports; and affect to regard the return of M.
Drouyn de l'Huys as the signal of an open rupture be-
tween the two powers. With regard to the naval ar-
maments, the Government has already contradicted the
report in the journals, and for our part we are very welt
persuaded that it never had an idea of the kind, and that
it would take care not to commit so useles a fault. As
to any rupture between the two countries, we believe in
it still less. M. de Mareschalci remains in London, in
quality of charge d'affaires, and, therefore, diplomatic
relations are not even suspended. What is meant
by the recall of M. Drouyn de l'Huys to Paris is,
that after the want of courtesy of which Lord
Palmerston has been guilty towards the French
Government, the amicable relations of marked and reci-
procal friendship which ought to unite two countries se
near to each other are uninterrupted until fresh orders,
or until explanations or satisfactory marks of regret
have been given. It is a declaration of coolness, and
nothing more; it would be truly too absurd that, for a
dispute which had arisen between the Ministers who re-
present them, and on account of an espieglcrie de mauvais
gout committed by a man so compromised in Europe as
Lord Palmerston, France and England should destroy
each other, and set the world on fire. There are num
berless diplomatic precedents to teach us what is the
usual practices on occasions like the present, and there
is nothing to justify very great alarm. As we have be-
fore said, if we lose our intimate relations with England,
we, on the other hand, gain by being removed, for some
time at least, from all contact with one of the evil geniuses
of Europe. This is some compensation; and however
long the attitude of coolness may exist between the two
Governments, we do not fear that it will weaken the
feeling of reciprocal esteem and affection which unite
France and England, and which it is for the honour of
both to preserve, and to keep up in the, interest of the
peace and the liberty of the world."
The Constitutionnel of Sunday says that it was re-
ported that orders of recall for the Marquis of Non-
MANBY had reached Paris, and had been transmitted
to him at Versailles. "Ilia report, however, is not
credited. The Noble Marquis is suffering severely
from injuries sustained in consequence of a fall from
his horse on Friday.
It is said that the omission of the publication of the
communication of General LA EITTE in the Moniteur
was by order of the PRESIDENT, and that it was only
on representations being made to him ;by his Minis-
ters, that the non-appearance of that communication
in the Moniteur could not diminish the publicity
which had been given to it, that he consented to its
appearance in the supplement of the .Moniteur.
On this subject we find the following in the
National—
.' Every one has seen with profound astonishment that
the official organ of the Government, the Moniteur Uni•
versa', neither inserted in its columns the explanations
given in the tribune by M. La Flitte, nor the letter of
recall of M. Drouyn do l'Huys. It is asked what is the
meaning of this kind of disavowal of the declarations of
the Minister of Foreign Affairs; this prompt falling
back after such a noisy demonstration. We are now
behind the scenes, and we cannot say to what sudden
influence, intervening like the old Deus ex machine, this
new coup de theatre was owing. But as it is an unex-
ampled thing that the Moniteur should ever forget a part
of the report of the sitting of the Assembly, and parti-
cularly the most important one, it is to be presumed that
it was not by chance or by error that the omission
of the speech of M. La Hitte, and of the diplo-
matic document read by him in the tribune, took
place. It is to reckon too much on the credulity
of the country to suppose for a moment that
such a ridiculous fable will be credited. But after
having yielded to we know not what imperious exigen-
cies, a sudden change of mind takes place. Contradic-
tion on contradiction I It was decided that the bad
effect caused by the rather too significant silence of the
Moniteur should be repaired. We therefore, at the
opening of the last sitting, saw M. La Ilitte ascend the
tribune in his most solemn pace. With great solemnity
he expressed his astonishment at the forgetfulness of 'the
official journal, claimed the insertion of the part of the
report of the sitting which had been omitted, and even
demanded explanations on what he could not have been
ignorant of. M. Dupin, who presided, had just arrived
from a journey, and he was not less astonished than M.
La Hitte ; and ho could not account to himself for such
an inexactitude. Might there not have bean an error
on the part of the Moniteur And moreover, theta
are Ministerial journals which pretend to have commu-
nication of documents before the official organ of the
Government itself. Admitting even this supposition,
why did not the Moniteur at least publish the words
spoken by M. La Hitte, although they had not the
letter. The short-hand writers, always so exact,
always so prompt in their duty—we are pleased to
render them this justice—were they, perchance, asleep
while M. La Hitte was speaking? That sleep may
appear natural, but they are too serious in the accom-
plishment of their daily functions to commit such an act.
In short, the explanations given by M. Dupin have, in
tact, explained nothing. Let. us agree, if you will, to call
it chance which has caused this singular forgetfulness;
we cannot fail to soon know what is really concealed
under this officious pseudonyme. Neither the arrange-
much concern us. It is difficult to unravel the thread of
arrange-
ment of the comedy, nor the want of skill of the actors,
this intrigue. The delaration of the English jcurnals,
the speeches delivered by the Marquis of Lansdowne
and by Lord Palmerston, singularly weaken the ex-
pressions of M. La Hitte. We have not to give our
opinion on matters of detail, to add up the number of
drachmas more or less to be paid to that facetious per-
sonage, M. Pacifico, or to determine to what amount
more or less favourable to him commences the triumph
or the defeat of the influence of the La Hitte and
D'Hautpoul Ministry. We must wait until light is
thrown on this matter; it suffices for us at the present
moment to know the secret idea which. is inspired
by the conduct of the Government."
The Patrie denies the statement of the Union, that
the recall of M. DROUYN DE L'Hurs took place with-
out the knowledge of the PRESIDENT. Much credit,
however, is not given to this denial, and the manner
in which the PRESIDENT received the " Burgraves,"
MOLE, PISCATORY, TRIERS, and Co., at the ball at
the Elysee, on Friday night, was so marked by cold-
ness
as to leave little doubt of the feelings with which
he regarded the machinations of these Absolutist in-
triguers.
The National states that M. BRENIER, Director at
the Foreign-office, is about to set out for London,
charged with a special mission.
Forty-one representatives have already inscribed
their names to take part in the discussion on the
Electoral Reform Bill, for, and 35 against,- amongst
the latter are General CAVAIGNAC and M. LAMAR-
TINE.
The Five per Cents. were done in the Passage of the
Opera at 87f. 70c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-F..XCHANGE. MAY 18.
Boulogne and Amiens, 6—Northern of France, 113/4--
Orleans and Bourdeaux, *3—Varis and Strasbourg, s;s,_
Rotten and Havre,

SPAIN.
Madrid journals of the 13th have arrived.
The Heraldo announces the arrival of Count MINA-
SOL at the Canaries, en route for the ilavannab.
MADRID BOLSA. MAY 13.—Three per Cents.
3l 4 ; Fives, 12i. Exchange on London, 50 30.

Mr. Joseph Hume Burnley, who
„has been ad
interim employed at Frankfort, will return to his former post
of attacM to her Ilajesty'g Embassy at Aladnd,