A BURST OF SUNSHINE.
THE sun has arrived just in time to settle a question more difficult than that of the East or of the Ministry ; to adjourn, sine die we trust, that perplexing question which we noticed last week—what would be the effect if a failure of the harvest at home were accom- panied by great abundance of corn abroad ? We observed that the disturbance, carried to the degree that might be anticipated under such circumstances as those of our vastly extended com- merce, would be more critical than some might suppose. We then knew that the growing crops were abundant; we now learn from the sky, that they are likely to receive that golden colour which crowns their value for man. The Russians and the Turks may continue their proverbial occupations against each other ; Frede- rick William may "maunder" and Francis Joseph may hesitate ; Aberdeen and Derby may reckon each other's chances ; but the English people are at all events promised bread in abundance. Not, indeed, that the laws of nature will alone suffice to secure abundance for man in society. Man himself must toil to work out the application of those laws to his own social ends; and it is the best part of the Peace principle of the present day that it induces men to come together for such purposes and protects them in the pursuit. While all Europe is convulsed with fundamental questions of Government and Liberty, we who have settled those questions are free to carry on the pursuits of experiment, inquii7, and consultation on material improvements, by national standing committees like the Royal Agricultural Society; and this Tea1? notwithstanding every species of discord in other parts of the world, we see that the practical advance of agriculture, its show of implements and its knowledge of methods, have been carried on. This is the true Peace principle : it is by our practical achievements in this field that we teach the nations how to value peace, while we teach that liberty is the true preservative of pence at home, and strength its true preservative without. For want of these two securities, the disturbed husbandman in the East is al- ways beginning it the beginning. No wonder, therefore, that Lord Carlisle found him still content with the same implements that he used in Homer's time. But as soon as he is relieved from the disturbance of war, he is likely enough to quarrel with his old implements. For, on the plain of Troy, Mr. Calvert, the English Consul, has an extensive farm, on which may be found implements inscribed with the names of Garrett of Saxmundham and Cresskill of Beverley. These are the "allied forces" usefully invading Turkey in the rear of those that are advancing beyond the Danube. Let us not be mistaken as belonging to that school which calls itself, too exclusively, " the Peace school." If the military forces in alliance had not established the possession of the Danube—had not carried on the veritable war of sword and gun victoriously— those other allied forces of Garrett and Cresskill would not have retained possession of the plain of Troy ; England and agricul- ture would have been driven back for a few more centuries on that field. Nay, if we had not our arms to defend those distant out- posts of our national influence and stability, we might have the Russian amongst ourselves upsetting our institutions, cutting up the corn on the plains of Lincoln as he has done on the fields of Wallachia, and reintroducing, where Garrett and Cresskill no reign, the implements of the age of Homer.
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