The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-02 00:00:00

if the Ministry and their supporters could
have been compelled to swallow the words
to which they could not give a hearty assent ;
land it is regretted that the Free-traders, with
Mr. VILLIERS at their head, should not dictate
the terms of a Free-trade resolution ; and it is
also to be regretted that the House of Commons,
save the now immortalised 53, could not unite to
declare that Free Trade is " wise, just, and bene-
ficial ;" but it would have been matter for regret,
on the other hand, that it should have done so
at the expense of touching the honour of so many
practical Free-traders. It is, we think, most of
all, to be regretted, that her MAJESTY'S Ministers
took the view they did of the contested words.
Mr. DISRAELI called these epithets odious ; the coun-
try thinks them themost appropriate which could be
selected. The Honourable Gentleman, indeed,
meant that they were so, as having been inserted,
in his view, expressly to annoy him and his fol-
lowers ; that they were odious as a party device.
His own resolution, as was repeatedly observed,
proved the wisdom, justice, and beneficence of
Free-trade legislation ; and he himself in his
speech carefully avoided discussing the propriety
of the epithets in question—completely shunned
the issue he ought to have joined, and spent his
whole strength in a vindication of his party's
proceedings. We believe Mr. DISRAELI him-
self would not deny in so many words
that Free Trade was " wise, just, and beneficial."
It is, therefore, the more to be lamented that he
led his party on against a clause in the resolu-
tion which would be carried by acclamation at any
public meeting that could be held in any part of the
country. As, however, the Government felt so
keenly these truthful words, and as they were
willing to sign an unconditional capitulation in
other terms, it was at least merciful to spare the
feelings of a beaten foe. JOHN BULL will growl
at first that he could not get a plain English
oonfession of past errors, but with his charac-
teristic unwillingness to fight down, and his
readiness to throw back something for luck, he
will cordially accept the proffered nineteen
shillings and elevenpence three farthings in the
pound, and wish them luck with the odd farthing.
As the result, no party has gained a victory.

Free Trade alone has triumphed, and triumphed
gloriously, nine to one in a full house ! The
last majority comprised large numbers of men of
every political party. It was, in fact, at the
same time a noble triumph over party, and for
Free Trade. It will make it clear to all the world
that England has finally settled her policy.
It will do this even if projects of compensa-
_ _

tion were in the mind of the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER. We ought to believe his own de-
claration, that he has never thought of compen-
sation, and that, too, notwithstanding the sentence
fished up by Lord JOHN RUSSELL from that for-
midable treasury of past professions, the impar-
tial " Hansard." We do not think that he ever

thought compensation possible, even if he could
think it due. We accept, till the Budget ap-
pears, Mr. HENLEY'S explicit declaration, that no
relief could be thought of for the farmer in which
all the community should not equally share. But even
were compensation for transitional suffering pro-
posed, it would no morethrow suspicion on our Free-

trade sincerity in the eyes of foreign countries, than
our compensating the slaveholders affected their
belief of our heartiness in abolishing negro slavery.
On the contrary, they would think that we must
have a strong conviction indeed of the value of
our present course, if, rather than give it up, we
consented to sacrifice somewhat to preserve it.
The country will, however, keep a most vigi-
lant look out against any back-handed Protec-
tion.

Lord JOHN himself would only be too glad
,o catch his rival tripping so far. Right glad
would he be to return to the battle on this ground ;
we may, however, be pretty sure that it will not
be afforded to him. It was, indeed, a very clever

hit when Lord Jomr observed that the Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. DISRAELI) " had shown to the
House, that, while he was connected with the
cause of Protection, he did not faithfully serve the
cause of Protection ; I say, therefore, now that
he has espoused the cause of Free Trade, let us
take care that he is not as faithless to the cause
of Free Trade." The Hon. Gentleman will, how-
ever, unless we are quite mistaken, take care of

himself. He will hazard no more League meetings,
no more appeals to the country on this great
question. He is glad enough to bury the thing
wholly and for ever ; and, to use Mr. COBDEN'S
own phrase in Yorkshire, "no Government or
party will be found foolish or bold enough to tie
the tin kettle of Protection to its tail again."
No, the FOUR HUNDRED and SIXTY-EIGHT have
settled that question for all England, and all the
world too. A little soreness from the fight some
of the Parliamentary sections will feel for a few
days, but the grand fact will remain for
the future historian and will now be
told in every commercial country in the
world that after successive ameliorations
of our Tarift for a long series of years,—after six
years' trial of abolished corn laws, and subse-
quently abolished navigation laws, that the
British Parliament chosen to decide this question,
has decided it by the above almost unparalleled
majority. It will be told that the two most com-
mercial nations upon earth, the two freest, the
two most intelligent, the two most enterprising of
nations, in one and the same year, and almost at
the same hour, decided, both of them by over-
whelming majorities, that henceforth their policy
should be to allow every man to buy in the cheapest
market, and to sell in the dearest ; or, in more
sacred words, to do unto another as he would that
others should do unto him. We heartily rejoice
in the double vote. It speaks peace to all the
nations. England and America are now bound
together by a new international tie ; their policy
will be identical,- and mutually beneficial. They
cannot fight : not only that, they will let no one
attack the other. A cordial feeling will grow
between them, which will unite their navies in
defence of each other. Should the new French EM-
PEROR turn out what his enemies wish, the envious
foe of England, he will be equally the foe of
America. But we rather look to the peaceful
influence of the two nations. European coun-
tries like trade and its profits as well as
we do, and when they see the two greatest
trading nations in the world heartily joining in
the same policy, it will be impossible for them to
resist the impression. What will follow ? They
will be compelled to relax commercial restrictions,
compelled to afford facilities for commercial traffic,
compelled to do away with the obstructions to the
free intercourse of nation with nation ; and then it

will be found, we trust, that commerce will accom-
plish what barricades could not ; that it wiE

diffuse intelligence, liberalise the views of the
governors themselves, impart practical habits and
views to the theorisers of France and Germany,
and gradually establish peace and constitutional
liberty amongst all the nations of Europe.

STAMP DUTIES UPON NEWSPAPERS.—The Attorney
General does not bring on his measure for amending the
law relating to the stamp duties upon newspapers till Mon.
day, the 6th instant.
THE FIRST INDIA AND CHINA MAIL, under the con-
tract between the Government and the Peninsular and
Oriental Steam-packet Company, will be dispatched from
Southampton on the 4th of February next.
EASTERN STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.--A meeting
of the shareholders in this company was held yesterday at
the London Tavern ; H. T. Hope, Esq., in the chair. The
report of the court of directors was read and adopted, as
also resolutions to the effect that the forfeited shares should
be re-allotted, and that as soon as a capital of 800,0001.
has been subscribed the company should commence active
operations by establishing a line of steamers to India, with
a view, if considered desirable, of extending their service
to Australia.

REGENT'S CANAL COMPANY.—The proprietors of the
Regent's Canal Company have voted the sum of 430,0001.
for the extension of their works at Limehouse. The divi-
dend declared by this company for the past half year is at
the rate of Bs. 6d. per share.

INCREASE OF BULLION.—It is estimated that the next
return of the Bank of England will show an increase of
between 300,0001. and 4C3,000/. in the stock of the pre-
cious metals—so large has been the influx of Australian
gold, which, after passing through the hands of the brokers
and others, has found its way into the Bank.
GENERAL POST-OFFICE, NOVEMBER, 1852. On and
from the Ist December next, the postage chargeable upon
all letters transmitted between the United Kingdom and
Peru, either by packet direct, or vid Panama, will be-2s.
when not exceeding half-an-ounce in weight ; 4s. when ex-
ceeding half-an-ounce, and not exceeding one ounce ;„ and
so on, according to the scale in operation for charging in-
land letters. This postage must bo paid in advance.
Newspapers for Peru will be conveyee free of charge, as
heretofore.