The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-23 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, OCT. 23, 1357.

The future government of the Danubian Prin-
cipalities is a question of no ordinary magnitude.
But for the Indian difficelty it would attract
universal attention in Great Britain ; and in
France, it may be doubted whether it does not,
occupy a more prominent position in the public
mind, than the Sepoy mutiny and the
nate massacre of English men, women, and chi]..
dren. It is well known that France and Ragland
take very different views of the policy that ought
to be pursued by the Western Powers with re-
spect to the union of these important provinces,
and, as a natural consequence, respecting the con-
tested elections in Moldavia, where an over-
whelming majority of anti-unionist deputies had
been returned to the Divan ad hoc. Indeed, it
was only during the visit of the French EMPREOR
to Osborne that these differences were arranged,
and that England gave its assent to the setting
aside these elections, in accorlance with the
imperious demands of the representatives of
Russia, Prussia, France, and Sardinia, who struck
their flags at the slightest hesitation by the Otto-
man Government, although supported by the
English and Austrian Embassies.

The new elections have taken place. The Divan
had been duly constituted, and by a telegram,
received from Vienna, dated Tuesdayevenin
the 20th October, it is said that, "The Divan
of Moldavia yesterday voted almost unanimously
the following principles Self-government of
the Principalities conformably to the treaties with
the Porte, whose rights are admitted. Union of
the two provinces under a prince belonging to a
dynasty of the West. A representative form of
government, and neutrality of the new State.' "
It is right to say that "the Nord," the Russian
organ in Belgium, publishes the above, "with re-
serve, or, in other words, does not commit itself
to the accuracy of the intelligence. Considering,
however, what has already taken place, and the
nature of the returns already known, it is by no
means improbable that it may be authentic, and
the French and English journals are fully 'wac.
ranted in speculating on the possible results.
It must not be forgotten that the late war, which
cost England so many of her gallant children, and
nearly
eighty millions of pounds sterling, was oc..
oasioned by the unauthorised and unwarrantable
invasion of these very Principalities. The cross-
ing of the Pruth by Russian troop, being re-
garded as an adequate casus belli, although the de-
claration of hostilities was protracted in the vain
hope of'arriving at a more pacific solution. Then
both Franco and England boldly entered the field,
to preserve the Ottoman Empire from dismember-
ment, and to prevent Russia from obtaining access
to the Danube atany moment. But what was staved
by " the sword," was virtually sacrificed by " the
pen." What our heroes shed their blood for in

I the Crimea—what occasioned the fall of Sebasto-
pol, and all the sanguinary contests—what deve
loped the Christian virtues of FLORENCE NIGHT-•
INGALE and her devoted band—were all over-
thrown by diplomatic cunning on the one Bide,
and diplomatic oversight on the other. In place
of having the matter fully and finally disposed
of, it was permitted to remain an opera
question, and was partially remitted for
the consideration of the inhabitants them-
selves. We need not say what a fertile field
for intrigue was thus opened out, or that the most
unscrupulous would ultimately prevail. Russia
first, for reasons not quite explicable, achieved
the co-operation of France, Prussia, and Sardinia,
and thus obtained a majority of votes over Eng-
land, Austria, and Turkey, although the latter
was the interested party, who was to be stripped
of valuable territory without obtaining any

equivalent.
The decision of the Moldo-Wallachian Divans
is, however, by no means conclusive. Sel-
Government, conformably to the treaties with the
Porte, they were entitled to, and no English per-
son would strip them of a particle of their just
rights and privileges. But then comes the ques-
tion of union with a Prince belonging to a dynasty
of the West. This involves the whole difficulty
—Who is the happy candidate for the prospective
throne ? Twenty German Princelings grasp at
the imaginary sceptre. Fifty-five marriageable
Princesses heave sympathetic sighs at the eligible
opening. Russia, of . course, seeks one who
will become a Russian tool, far more dan-
gerous to Turkey than even Russia herself.
One Royal personage breathes a wish in favour
of " poor little NASSAU;" another has some other
equally eligible protegi whose graces would adorn
the purple. And when was there a sovereignty
to be gained where a Coburg candidate was not
forthcoming I Even Uncle LEOPOLD was ready
to devote his youthful Flanders to the arduous
task. It is by no means improbable that NAPO-
LEON would have no objection to inaugurate his
novel dynasty with a second sovereign from his
House, and either Prince NAPOLEON or MURAT
would be spared for the purpose. Nor would Aus-
tria remain idle in the diplomatic contest ; she, too,
would have her favourite. Nor is it improper that a
Neapolitan Bourbon would be quite willing to
give a further specimen of entitled government.
Who then will be forced to unite the suffrages
of the various conflicting elements at the confer-
ences that must decide the interesting and impor-
tant question ? These are matters that will not
be easily or speedily decided ; and when they
are, we suppose a new loan, guaranteed by the
Protecting States, similar to that of Greece, in its
inception, and. most probably in all other respects,
will be inaugurated. The young couple, for of
course there will be a marriage growing out of it,
to satisfy two of the Electors, must have a tidy
sum in hand to commence housekeeping, and set
up an adequate establishment, and the English
tax-payers will be expected, stlon, les regles, to
contribute handsomely, not merely to the Trous-
seau, but to the entire stock of the young be-
ginners, who will have something analogous to
the penny weddings known in some of the prc-
viuces.

The Wallachian Divan has, it appears, passed
a similar resolution to that of Moldavia, so the
electioneering tactics will commence amongst the
young gentlemen having the true " azure" blood
in their veins. It is not often that such a chanee
, and we mar be sure that they will make
the most of it. The Sultan ought, however, to
have a leading choice in the election. He
is the most deeply interested of all in ob-
taining an unobjectionable Prince, who will
respect his suzerainti, which it appears is
still to be maintained, although it will rank higher
than the Princedom of Neueltatel, or other of these
all but imaginary titles. We shall patiently abide
the issue, but we do not think that it will be so
very easily decided as the Unionists at present
imagine iq consequence of the concurrence of the
Divans. It is one thing to settle principles, but
very different to carry them into practical and
effective operation.

It is gratifying to see that while some public
men, chiefly Peelites or Tories, are maundering
about humanity to mutineers, all our men of
weight demand humanity to the millions of India ;
for that is the real meaning of stern justice on
atrocious rebels. Some Tories, of whom we had
hoped better things, have joined in the maudlin
cuckoo note, of hoping that we, as a Christian
_Nation, shall remember the duty of mercy to our
enemies. Good Heavens ! When have English-
men been guilty of anything but too much mercy ?
Every English soldier, unlike the brutal wretches
who pass by that name in Austria or Russia, or
Naples, is much more liable to be guilty of undue
pity than of undue severity ; much more isCiis
the danger of our officers and genera's. With
them it requires courage not to repress vindictive
rage, but to be justly severe. For Lord Joies.
RUSSELL, Lord ELLENBOROUGH, and the Duke of
CAM&RIDGE to give utterance to the manly
sentiments they have just expressed, and to do
what they each may in their high position
in the country's councils to give effect to them, is
what really requires the firm nerve of the honest
and farseeing Statesman or Commander. And
we confess we must despise the cant—the effemi-
nacy, we were about to say—but that we would
lot wrong the other sex, the sex which has joined
even in wielding the weapons of death in India,
—we despise the easy cant which assumes to be
merciful overmuch, in a case like the present--
the cant of men, at public meetings, praying pity
for the hell-hounds of India, when to have a fling
at their political opponents is their intent. On
the other hand we confess that W. 8., in Essex,
the other day, in our opinion, fairly and fully
atoned for all his electioneering sins, by nobly
avowing that he would be no party to thwarting,
or in any way embarrassing a ministry to which
he is pottically opposed, while they are engaged,
as they now are, in doing the common work of
Englishmen. Sir E. B. LYTTON, also, honourably
expressed similar views at the Tring Agricultural
1 meeting on Wednesday.

The occasion was a befitting one, at Sheffield,
on Wednesday, for a Commander-in-Chief to
speak ; one to call forth the feelings of a noble
soldier on the duties of the Army and the Govern-
ment in India. He was laying in Sheffield the
foundation-stone of a monument erected to the
Memory of Soldiers who had fallen in the Crimea
in vindicating international justice—a monument
to be erected, as we may say, by the class from
which our private soldiers are taken ; he was
'Peaking, too, in a town which has set a splendid
.pxreasmert emergency,eofitsre
readiness to furnish soldiers for the
firm belief that the tide
and that our vast reinforcements'
eeaculd tell them of his
no w
wt
ouur
In;
soon
ionn
slndia,wep
with crushing might over the tztensive districts
where our noble, few, alai scattered men have held
their own so long and against such vast numbers ;
but, llkeLord ELLENBOROUGII, what a contras., does
his language present not only to the Poarasaica,
humanitarians, but to the circular of Lord CAN-
NING himself. The Duke of CANIBRIDGE would
not trifle with the solemn sense of a

high and holy, though awful duty imposed
on the military and civil ministers of
justice in India. " I trust," he said,
" that no undue leniency will be adopted. (Cheers.)
that may appear a very harsh and unfeeling re-
mark. (" No, no.") It is nothing of the kind.
What does it mean ? We have an army of 70,000
nen who have mutinied nobody knows why .
Are these 70,000 men to be allowed to go
broadcast over the country maßsacreing men,
vomen, and children without receiving the punish-
!nent due to such crimes? ("No, no.") Just so,
gentlemen ; therefore let us have justice. (Cheers.)
Not undue, indiscriminate vengeance, but justice,
ind stern justice. (Cheers.) We have a right to ex-
pect that those men shall be brought before proper
tribunals and duly punished for the atrocious deeds
hey have committed. Less ought not to be done. I
am sure the country will support all who have the ,
manliness and courage to inflict that punishment."
Just so; the country "will support all who have the
courage and manliness to inflict that punishment."
And instructively did the Duke express the feel-
tng of every Englishman, and every English sol-
plier, when he spoke of inflicting punishment as
rally requiring " courage and manliness," and
the executioners of justice as really needing "sup-
port" is the performance of so painful a duty.
We have spoken chiefly of men in high position,
but our columns yesterday contained a striking
illustration of the commingling of the fierce and
the merciful in the bosom of the private soldier.
We commend the plain unvarnished letter we
refer to, to the notice of Mr. GLADSTONE and all
the talkers in the strain we have alluded to, and
we ask the simperers if they can help being proud
of the British Highlander. The man could be one
of a party to scour the country—we find him with
the rest of his little company facing ten times their
number, routing them, firing the village in which
they defended themselves, joining in hanging
them by two or three or ten at a time—lying
down and sleeping by the men they had hung,
and when the rope broke with one man promptly
hanging him again. For men entrusted with deadly
arms and weapons for the defence of others, who
had turned those arms against officers, civilians,
women and infants—for the cruelest of cowards
mercy was not even thought of ; the blood of
tender babes, and dishonoured as well as mur-
dered women, cried too loud in the soldiers' ears
for that. But the same noble fellow could not
lose his own feelings for the helpless and innocent
though they belonged to the guiltiest. We follow
him into the burning village ! the sight of senile
decrepitude meets his eye—he takes the old
man's cot, and, like the angels at Sodom, he
drags the lingering victim of second childhood
from the flames. A child at a door meets his
eye—it vanishes, the house is blazing—he rushes
through the door—finds a square of houses ; a
mother with a babe just born, six children, an
old man, and an " old dotal woman ;" after try-
ing in vain other expedients, ho takes the woman
and her babes in his arms—the children, as he
expected, take the old man and woman and fol-
low him—and he leads the way to burst through
the entrance now in flames ! Two, Indeed, there
he saved, carrying one, an old woman, who
could only creep—compelling others by threats to
save some of their fellow-sufferers !

Is not this the very picture of the man we want
just now to inflict the necessary retribution?
Thank Heaven

•• We have witlain our realm
Ten thousand good as he."

It is such soldiers who will retrieve the British
name, as well as the position of Britain, in India.
Well do the natives know the necessities of the
case ; justly do they estimate the treatment which
the rebels, ingrates, and coward-murderers de-
serve at our hands ; and on them will they im-
precate the curses called forth by their own inci-
dental sufferings ; but their feelings towards our
own soldiers will be those indicated by the sequel
of this striking story. " When I went," the
writer says, "to the other side of the village,
there were about 140 women and about 60 chil-
dren, all crying and lamenting what had been
done. The old woman of that small family I
took out came, and I thought she would have
kissed the ground I stood on. T offered them
some biscuit I had for my day's ration, but they
would not take it ; it Would break their caste they
said. The assemble' sounded, and back I went,
with as many blessings as they could pour out on
anything nearest their heart." Such men and
their officers need no lectures from either Mr.
GLADSTONE Or Lord CANNING.

PF.INCIE ALFRED AT BAL3IORAL.—The Aberdeen Jour-
nal says :—Since the departure of the Court from Bal-
moral, the stir about the Castle has ceased, and it has
rasuined its w,,nted quiet, imposing look. The day pre-
vious to the Queen's leaving for the season, the youth:ul
Prince Alfred, who was deer-stalking in Garumlie,
brought down his first stag, and, in celebration of the
occa.-iihn, all the gilltes in attendance were commanded
to appear at the main entrance, and with lighted torches
they danced a Highland reel together.
His Excellency the Prussian Minister and the Coun-
tess Bernstorff have left town on a visit to the L-,rd
Chancellor and Lady Cran worth.
The Duke de Richelieu has arrived a; the St.
George's Hotel, from Paris.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Normuiby have lift
the St. George's Hotel, on their return to Fl ,rence.
_ _

The Marc-blouses of Waterford has left Cliridge's
Hot,l, for Curraginnore, Ireland.
The Marquis of Queensberry in among the recent
departures from Long's Hotel.

The Earl of Howtli has arrived at Claridge's Hotel,
'rum Howth Castle, Dublin.

The Earl and Counters of Darnley and family have
arrived at Ciaridge'a Hotel, from Cobham Hall, Grave-
send.

Lnrd Ribbeedale has arrived at the St. George's Hotel.
CAMBRIDGE.—ELECTION OP LORD MACAULAY A
HIGEI STEWARD.—At a meeting of the town Cou7.cil
y .sterday, the Right Hon. Baron Macaulay was elected
liggh Steward of the borough, in the room of the late
Lord Fttzwilliam. The noble lord had previously noti-
fied his willingness to accept the office.

TUE ORGAN IN REGENT-SQUARE CHURCN.—During
the last two months the organ in the above-named
church has undergone extensive repairs and improve-
moots, under the able superintendence of Mr. John
Banfield, organ-builder, Birmingham'. This instrument
was built about 30 years ago by Gray, and Mr. Barfield
(who received his training in the organ-manufactory of
the late J. C. Bishop) has made the following improve-
naents and additions :—A. new tenor C swell, containing
the following stops : double diapason, open diapason,
stop diapason, principal, fifteenth, trumpet, hautboy ;
two octaves of German pedals, and pedal pipes from
C C C ; three composition pedals ; couplers ; concipsion
valves to steady the wind, and many other modern im-
provements. Toe organ has been re-voiced and tuned
equal temperament. The whole has been done in a
very masterly manner, and reflects the greatest credit
upon Mr. Banfield. The organ was opened on Sunday
last, and gave general satisfaction to the committee, and
all who had the pleasure of hearing it.
The money-market is exceedingly quiet, and, owing
to the absence of any important failures and the signs of
general stability among the leading manufacturing and
shipping firms throughout the country, a very satisfac-
tory feeling is observable. Uncertainty still prevails as
to the probable necessity of any further upward move-
ment on the part of the Bank, but the question will,
perhaps, be solved before the lapse of another week. It
is said that in case of an advance above 8 per cent. being
adopted the joint-stock banks are not likely to make
any increase in their rate of allowance for customers'
deposits. Their present rate is 7 por cent., and under
any circumstances this will most probably be their
limit. A movement in the Bank minimum beyond its
existing point would obviously be too exceptional to
admit of any general arrangements being based upon it.
The demand yesterday was comparatively moderate,
both at the Bank and out of doors. In some instances
choice paper has been negotiated at 7i
or 77'y. but in
most platters the Bank cliarge is upheld. On six
months' bills 9 per cent. has been paid. It is an ur-
pleasant feature that there are again some symptoms of
a demand for gol l for the cmtinent, and if this should
increase, as nornoreAustralien active!, are to be counted
up el at pre'ont, it eau he sut,p/ied only by withdrawals
trfon the Beek. About 16,000 eovereigrs were raid to
_'oy
have be-.r; taken r New York. The amount
of silver to be provided t the tic:xt Overland Alail on
the 4th of November witi depend upon the fresh quota.
tions of tl'.-et India and China exchanges shortly to be
expected
etoe.: be already engaged.—Tithes' City Article.
telegraph, but more than 300,0001. is under-