The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-21
LETTER FROM EUROPE.
Especial Correspondence Of tho Union ]


Parliament prorogued yesterday by royal commits
sion, the Queens speech giving avery fair account Of
the position and doings of her Majesty government
though the Queens English and the composition of the
speech generally have elected natucd comments
from the Tines and Post Both these journals favor
able to Lord Palmeton; but all their lamentations at
his nl and ell the innuendoes thrown out against the
present Derby ministry have fallen harmlessly TO the
ground. The British nation looks upon viscount Pal
merston as a dangerous statesman, whom 1t would be
rash to nrust again with the government and upon the
Earl of Derby. sensible tory, who, long as he
commands the support Of the Manchester free trade and
peace party can do harm. The truth Is that with
the fall Of the monopolies the Inauguration Of tho anti
protective policy and the abolition Of the old navigation
laws the terms wings and tories have lost their specific
mean1g and all practical application to the present bus
ness wants Of tho country. Az misstfy almost exrlu-
svcy composed of noblemen may be as liberal in Its
policy to the industrious classes Of Fugand as ono com
posed chiefly Of hereditary whigs and quito sensible
and peaceaby disposed in Its intercourse with foreign
nations There is straightforwardness directness,
and bon' mn in the Earl Of Derbys character which
confidence and personal adhesion while illdis
guised dsr followed the most noted achievements
of Lord Palncrston during the most brilliant period of
his parliamentary He facetiousy compared
to those skiful coachmen who could drive to the very
brink of precpce without tipping over yet taking the
breath out Of your mouth while you submitting to
the experiment He certainly came very near upset
ting his coach at doors, and the mutual friends
of America and Engle1d have cause to regret
his present less responsible position From his a1vanced
age and the loss Of confidence the part of his Man
chester friends it is not likely he will return to
power though he may his political opponents do that
which his friends expected of him. liberal policy is,
since tho downfall of tho monopolists longer the
NJ buta yyhi Ia
qpIr of the government ITSELF into whatever hands
it may happen fall The free traders and free sailors
even necessary to the tories who have
ccnt prestige to rely upon and who are judged by tho
merit of each individual act, than to the wings, who,
like Lord John RUSSELL Lord Pamerston, and Lord Cla
rendon have long drawn their general character
for support. They have done England and the world
service but they have few sympathzers with their
fate the ministry is now consolidat I'd tion,
which promises to hold power for some time.
The right-of-search question is honestly ended, quite
to the satisfaction of the liberal party here and
glad to learn that the Central American ro7lo, in spite
of the two governments of England and America being
unable to agree the proper Interpretation of the Clay
ton Bulwer treaty will not be pressed to premature
luton. England will wait to what the United Stotes
to do in Central America and if exclusive
privileges sought F the free transit Of persons and
property of all nations is secured all the ransits
tablshed and protected by the American government,
then the Clay treaty WILL in all probability
be consigned to the tombs of the Capulets England
just too much engaged in the Isthmus of Suez-
by far the most interesting spot the globe to the
and asccndency in the Easto handy words with
the United States about Nicaragua and Honduras though
the gold discoveries Frasers river and the establish
ment of the colonial government Of British Columbia
render the free transit the Isthmus Of Panama
important to her to ourselves Had Lord rameston
continued in power it is my firm conviction, from all
have heard and scen that the Central American mbrog
lo aggravated it by the assumption of the right
of visitation might have led to very unpleasant compli
cations between the two countries, which hap
PLY got rid Of, trust, forever.
The report of the royal commission the Sade dues,
to which have alluded In former letter, pub
shed yesterday 1t is short but very conclusive Eng
land i'll not continue this most unreasonable exaction
on tho part of the Hanoverian which
purely in the shape of demand for tribute from all
English and American vessels well of those of tho
Hanse-Towns. The ministry, am crcditaby informed,
shares the views of the commission and steps will i'm
medatey be taken treat for the abolition of the Stade
Dues in manner similar to that which proved satsac
tory with Denmark namely, by means of moderate
capitalization of these dues The administration of Mr..
Buchanan has long watched favorable opportunity OF
expressing its views whichar decidedly opposed to
tne payment vi tiic
ovean government and it is not improbable that the
joint remonstrance of the two greatest maritime nations
in the world will lead to satisfactory arrangement in
the shape of pecunary compensation for the abolition
of the dues Our treaty with Hanover expires shortly
SO does that Of England with Hanoverand the other
States of Europe will be but too happy to follow her
lead From Austria considerable aid is expected and
Prussia cannot separate herself in such question from
the policy of her ancient rival. The war clouds,
which but few weeks ago seemed to have hung
heavily over Europe, are not absolutely dispersed,
at least no longer threatening immediate storm.
OF course no national here expected a war be-
tween France and England except, perhaps the edi-
tors of Punch and the Tmes each for its purpose
but In the various questions pending between Aus
tria and Turkey France for good and to her sufficient
reasons certainly standing by the side Of Turkey even to
the extent of avong Russia In the Paris conferences on
the princpates French diplomacy has already cceba-
ted moro than one triumph and the most recent pacfca-
tion of Turks and Montcncgrns respectively is by com
mon consent ascbcd to the influence of France both at
Constantinople and in the prncipates the most diff
cult question: however, and that which will not bc dis
cussed until France shall have received new aclnowl
edgment of her power at Cherbourg, relates to the
navigation of the Danube and here It is still possible
for France and Austria 10 be at serious issue II the
Emperor of the French however succeeds In solating
Austria from England by locking the other in long
nued embrace then that difficulty, too, will be settled
by few conferences in Paris and the way for successful
r. cotlx, Ia kho