The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,

DAVID DUNDAS by Sutherlandshire, although both
were Liberal and although both were gifted with
abilities capable of proving serviceable to even the
most exacting constituencies. With equal incon-
sistency and ingratitude have other groups of electors
discarded the " sound common sense" of Alderman
HUSIPHERY, the splendid oratorical powers of Mr.
Fox, the patriotic self-devotion of Sir WILLIAM
SOMERVILLE, the energetic perseverance of Lord
Mescus HILL, the historical information of Lord
'Hattori, the legal knowledge of Sir Joins Romirxr,
the geographical learning of Mr. WYLD, the honesty
of Lord DUNCAN, the classical refinement of Mr.
SMYTHE, the vigour and vivacity of Mr.
BAILLIE COCHRANE, the energy of Mr. ROUNDELL
PALMER, and the integrity of Mr. Summer( CRAW.-
FORD—and so on through the whole unfortunate list
of those who have been unaccountably rejected among
our former representatives.
Several peculiar instances are specified in the course
of the very sensible remarks of Fraser, wherein, ac-
cording to the opinion of our contemporary, the pos-
sessors of the franchise have revealed the most flagrant
ingratitude and most marvellous lack of discern-
ment. Among these instances the name of Lord
EBRINGTON requires to be conspicuously notified,
seeing that that young nobleman bas, during a con-
siderable time past, revealed more and more clearly
the proficiency he has attained as a man of business
habits in connexion with the Legislature, and the
skill he has acquired in what is here happily
designated " the mechanics of legislation." Fraser
has a goodnatured word of regret to utter over the
defeat of Mr. PARSER, at Sheffield, of Alderman
COPELAND, at Stoke-upon-Trent; and even of one
who was long tabooed by the House of Commons—
Mr. CHISHOLM ANSTET—who, says Fraser, " after
much early eccentricity had at last begun to win the
ear of the House and who rarely spoke on any sub-
ject except to take an original view, and to illustrate
it by apposite citations from recondite authorities.
Very different in tone is the farewell tribute offered
shortly afterwards to sundry among the other re-
jected of ,the Irish constituencies. The bagpipe
, h
d,rwni ofwith
ethe Mr.hoCwaling
AwroßD, " it is facetiously observed,
chorus of the Brigade,' will no
more vex the dull ear of the drowsy House."
There is
subsequently raised a sort of paean
over the defeat of Mr. REYNOIDS (" the THERSITES
of the Commons") during the stormy contest in the
city of Dublin—while a half regretful mention is
made of the rejection of Mr. lioassuri, so long the
sting and terror of the Episcopacy.

Another tribute in Fraser to a defeated candidate
among the catalogue of former representatives we
ought especially to regard with satisfaction, both in
reference to Free Trade and to journalism. For the
tribute in question is the one directed to the veteran
author of the " Corn•law Catechism," and to that
" Old Reformer" familiar to the readers of The Sun
by his pithy communications to the Secretary of the
Bradford Reform Association. This allusion to the
eminent merits and prolonged services of Colonel PEE.
BONET Thompson is a propos to the rejection of Mr.
GEORGE FREDERICK YOUNG by his forther consti-
tuents—the writer remarking that the Free-traders
had thrown over a vigorous Free-trader in Bradford,
just as ungraciously as the Protectionists had the "seem-
ingly only honest advccate of Protection" in Scar-
borough. Whereupon, continues our contemporary,
"we cennot say that we regret the absence of Mr.
YOUNG, whose blatant enthusiasm and misplaced
obstinacy were as much an annoyance to his opponents
as they were an obstruction to his friends ; but old
Colonel THOMPSON we really wish to see back again
at his wonted station under the gallery, and near a
pillar (to him seemingly indispensable), once more to
trumpet forth his clear sonorous sentences, pregnant
with ideas and studied with aphoristic humour. We
shall miss, too, his weekly letter to his Bradford con-
stituents, wherein, MARVEL-like, he rendered an
account of his stewardship, and gave such graphic
descriptions of the proceedings in which he
was so regular and steady, though generally
SO silent, a participator." The tribute we
have here given is as gracefully written
es it is eminently deserved, and the allusion
made to the "sonorous sentences, pregnant with ideas
and studied with apboristio humour," is egveripqr_
hippy—applicable as those words of enlogium are not
only to each of Colonel Thompson's speeches in the
House of Commons, but to almost every page in the six
volumes of his thoughtful and diversified " Exercises."

The comprehensive glance through this retrospec-
tion by Fraser over the results of the late General
Election, while it impresses the mind more forcibly
thau ever with solicitude es to the future of the new
House of Commons, reminds us at the same time
somewhat sadly of the losses accruing to the country
from the dissolution of the old Parliament.

A question of considerable importance, which has
already been discussed at some length, will be brought
under the consideration of the shareholders of the
South-Eastern Railway Company at their half-yearly
general meeting. A prolonged correspondence has
also taken place, the principal features whereof are
recapitulated in the concluding letters, which will be
found in another part of this day's impression, and to
which we invite the attention of all interested parties.
It appears that the owners and occupiers of land in the
district situate between Strood and Chilham and Maid-
stone, being naturally desirous of.obtaining additional
railway accommodation, appointed a committee for
the purpose of entering into negotiations with the
directors of the South-Eastern Company on that
subject. Certain propositions were put forward on
behalf of the landowners to the effect that an Act
should be obtained for the construction of the pro-
posed work, which would complete the direct North
Kent line, at en expenditure not exceeding 600,000/.,
including the price of land, that the South-Eastern
Company should not be required to contribute in
any degree to the capital, but that they would
be expected to take the line on lease, when com-
pleted, for seven or fourteen years, at a rent
amounting to three per cent. on the outlay, tied
half the surplus profits, making due allowance for the
rentand working expenses, including reasonable
allowance for wear and tear of the working stock.
A sub-committee was also appointed to submit these
that subcommittee, propositions, and to treat with the directors of the
trunk line. Serious differences have arisen between
represented by Lord SONDES
and the
body of shareholders will M.P.
;
Mr. J. 14.4:3r5, acting through their chairman
and as the general
on
the
eill to-morrow have to express
eleearlious points, it may be
their opinions
well that they should
toydunderstand the subject- 1
18,000/.
matter on which they are
per
proposed line would conviction
an-
num, the directors, who have bad long the lease, at the minimum reenetide. With respect to
theirn practical expe-
rience on such subjects, declare
made,
waoutTl be nil,
thatth a t
ethveendiifvidtheendismo,ensttmheent
were
the cost and expense of working. Under such zvail
would not
countervail
line
constructed, the traffic, per se,
circum-
stances it could scarcely be expected that the directorswould recommend their constituents to incur a new
and heavy liability without a reasonable chance of
some fair equivalent. Eighteen thousand pound,
per annum would make a considerable inroad on the
sums applicable to dividends, which have already
been too much reduced, to permit the supposition
that any further diminution would be cheerfully
assented to. There is no doubt that real pro-
perty in the district would be materially be-
nefited, and that it might be worth the while
of the owners of the soil to undertake
the outlay, although it proved utterly unremunera-
tive as a railway speculation. This might be, and we
believe is, the truth. But if so, the parties seeking
the benefit should be prepared to put their hands in
their own pockets, and to obtain the desired advan-
tages s at their own exeense and not of third parties.
d
The Company
would gladly co-operate, would render
every assistance in their power, but a guarantee of 3
per cent.,
with a promise of half profits, would be, to
all intents and purposes, assuming the entire burden ;
for in the
present state of the money-market and the
high credit enjoyedai by the company, the directors
could easily
ditionel charge fse the required sum, without any ad-
or interest, and without being liable
for the ContingentWhichwould half of the profit=, a chance,
however,
not be very formidable. The
promise of raising the
entire capital on such terms,
without calling on the
company
ti,e
any to contribute, is no I
such very great exertion
torial aristocracy," that thepart of the "
shareholdersterri-
should be
the
overcome with gratitude for excessive liberality.
But 19t us see how ouch these aristocratic parties

have offered. Nothing, literally nothing. Twenty-
four thousand shares should be taken—eighteen
thousand were subscribed for. But by whom ? By
the highly-respectable contractors; while the
subscription lists still remain open as to the remain-
in g 6,0C0 shares, the enterprising and public- spirited
landowners not having bound themselves to any
considerable amount for the atta'nment of the desi.
deratum. Well may Mr. MACGREGOR exclaim—" This
is decidedly objectionable. It furnishes no evidence
of the stake which the gentlemen and landowners
of the district pledge to the permanent welfare and
interests of the scheme, but suggests and countenances
passadventure
ucacneds s s
op
fe eauflraet
si ob n
branch only
ine temporary yand
railway
wa ray
b y
contractors, divested of the Character it should possess
of permanent property and investment by the owners
of the soil through which it passes. We do not pre-
sume to say that an entire list of landed subscribers
is indispensable, but we wholly object to your Lord-
ship advsncing an inference that this opinion is to
be looked on as a direct refusal to agree to the
project."

He adds with much truth, " the subscription list
presents no expression of desire by the gentlemen of
North Kent to construct a continuation of the North
Kent line by investment in its shares, to guarantee its
permanent welfare, but that of contractors merely to
deal with the subject as an adventure, and in that
light only can it be contemplated."
If then the extension is to be made, the pro-
prietors must come forward boldly and ener-
getically. They must cease to rely on others,
and set their own shoulders to the wheel.
When they have done so they will find the company
willing to do all that can reasonably be expected at
their hands, viz., to lend their utmost assistance to
the efficient and profitable working of the new line,
when it has been completed at the cost of the land-
owners.

With respect to the general prospects of the com-
pany, we are happy to find that the total increase
of the traffic last half-year, compared with the cor-
responding period of 1850, has been no
less than 53,111/. sterling. The Exhibi-
tion, of course, made a very great change,
and it would scarcely be fair to compare the traffic at
a time when there was no extraordinary excitement
with such an unparalleled occasion. But we still
find that, excluding the through traffic to Dover
and Folkestone, on which of course there was
a reduction, there was an increase of the general
passenger traffic of the line and branches of 15,174/.
This is indeed a satisfactory announcement, affording
a cheering prospect to those who have invented their
capital in the undertaking.

THE PRESS IN PARIS.
The tone of the French Government organs
foreshadows some fresh and decisive measure against
the press, to finish at once all opposition. In this
view, a fresh article from a pen prophetic of ill, that of
M. Granier de Cassagnac, is worthy of particular
attention. clearly

This sinister composition, a continuation of others
under the heading of " The Government of Decem-
ber 2 considered in the point of view of reason and
morality," defends what he calls the " in-
troducedreform" by that Government in the law relating to
the press. To appreciate this reform it is, he says,
necessary, in the first place, to resolve this general
question,—" To what extent have the Governments of
great nations in all ages permitted freedom of think-
ing and writing ?" This question he answers, to his
own satisfaction, in these terms :
" History teaches that the absolute liberty of writing
and thinking proscribed by the Governments of all let-
tered nations of antiquity, is a modern theory of revolu-
tionary origin, never brought to the test of experience
till less than a century ago, and this theory will appear
now to all right thinking men, as during a long course
of centuries it did appear in the eyes of great nations, i
false, dangerous, and impracticable, f, as reason and
equity require, it be judged by its results. This is not
the place to expound in detail the constant practice of
the two great nations of lettered antiquity, the Greeks
and Romans, with respect to the liberty ot thinking and
writing; some general traits will suffice to refresh the
memory of the reader in this particular. It is well
known with what severe orthodoxy the dogmas of the
state religion were protected by the laws of the Greek
republics against the novelties of the philosophic schools.
The boldest freethinkers themselves outwardly professed
to respect the belief of the people, and two celebrated
religious prosecutions (the trial ot Alcibiades for the
mutilation of the Hermes, and that of Socrates) mark
eot
dice r defencetitnesobfyretlhie-
tv. ‘latt 4..acqusit. 4Une4 tb,3 •;:kc.oca uoria the et:Dl-
n
D:if:ion:se
dtlegllmt aosf, t hws
ht ecrha
tio
nf
sthheede ni
ne ring
condemnation of Yanini, Servetus, and the Chevalier de
Labarre."

A man who in the nineteenth century supports an
argument against the liberty of the press by citing as
precedents the poisoning of Socrates and the burning
of Servetus, is evidently not an advocate to do his
work by halves. Passing from the Greeks to the
Romans, 11. de Cassagnac refers to the persecution
of the Christians by the Rcman emperors for three
centuries, and to the laws of Theodosius and Valen-
tinian, when Christianity had become the state reli-
gion, by which it was made death to deny any iota
of the Nicean creed. The Governments of the middle
ages, and that of France in particular, faithfully fol-
lowed this tradition of ancient nations, and thus from
the first of the capitularies to the last of the ordi-
nances three generations of kings protected, by severe
laws, the trust of the public creed against the teme-
rities and aberrations of individual reason. M.
Granier sets the stamp of his approbation upon the
above-mentioned monumental acts of tyranny—held
up through all history to our execration—in these
words :—" If good and wise spirits rasa, they will
acknowledge that the conduct of these Governments
was equitable and sensible."
Thus, in the opinion of the chief writer of the
Government press, the execution of 8,800 heretics by
the first grand inquisitor was an "equitable and
sensible" proceeding. While the text inscribed over
the constitution of Janusry 15, 1852, is the pre-
servation of the principles of the revolution of 1788,
M. Granier speaks of the most fundamental of those
guarantees—the liberty of the press—as a pernicious
concession of Louis XVI. He proceeds to show the
" equitable and sensible" way in which the First
Consul dealt with the press, end concludes that the
liberty of thinking and writing h-s never been a
right, but is a mere prejudice, incompatible in the
troublous times of the last half-century with the
existence of government and society, at least in France.
This manifesto can only be regarded as the precur-
sor of a fresh blow to the press. The articles of M.
Granier have a more important scope than to console
people for lost liberties, and to reconcile them to the
iron sway under which they live ; they pioneer to fresh
inroads, they blow the trumpet-blast to fresh on-
slaughts. The Debats, which has long ago bowed
the head and given up the composition of leading
articles upon matters ne:ser than China and Japan,
or interests higher than auriferous quartz, or steam-
packet companies, may be allowed to exist, if such
vegetation can deserve the name. But the Presse will
assuredly be crushed, and perhaps the Sic/e.
As an agreeable poison is more dangerous to life
than the blow of a mallet, so Dr. Veron is, through a
plausible and pleasant style, a more insidious foe to
liberty than M. Granier with his lion's skin and club.
The doctor begins an article in the Constilutionnel by
comparing France surrendering her liberty to Louis
Napoleon to Madlle. de La Valliere entering the con-
vent in which bhe expiated the vices of another.
`• Madame," said this fair penitent to the superior of
the Carmelites, " I come to resign into your hands
the liberty of which I have made so ON 11 a use." It
is certainly plea cant in this comparison to think of
Louis Napoleon as a father-abbot receiving the vows
of contrite France. The doctor then cries out, in the
language of Virgil's celebrated lines :
Ilene saltsm everso juvenem suecurrero saolo
Ne prohibete;
ihte
liutdsa
nif :tit; r atr
eii
ttn.
hiebi
Dnapsgyae
pyramid
leNivd
eoeowf
sfsht.
shaolelc
sifeee
society
whichhoonwi
tlsopn
oglis Napo-
leon ascribed to himself on the 29th of Marchw,atninidiathrahede.
it
A

... OLITICO-PEDITNAL CONTRE- TE
isetowrydaisycsurargeont
aincethrteai
scope for imitation and amusing bye-play.
Dublin clubs which in them relationP3. A
affords true
learned gentleman, lately a Govern-
ree,mber of the Pope's parliamentary
ment official, but nowna
representative for a Leinster county,
It appears that a
brigade, and temporary
In the same car-
quite as respectable
the course of a con-
versationrwiaagsetrwavitehllhinigmownetrheesDevreoral
oneanofdth. e members for the
in external appearance as himself. In
which arose, the honourable and learned " briga-
dier" a fierce bigot,
dier" denounced Colonel Taylor,
yth°aftphilebillina'd the words " No Popery" proof thereof al-
olcenogutenhdte soles of his boots. To this allegatiO'n', pas-
sengers,dononeeofinthOprigsen, coolly observed,
" That's a lie." 6. What! " exclaimed the respondent, "o
who had remained silent till then,
you mean to say, sir, that what I have stated is a lie? d"
" Yes, sir, I do," replied the cool passenger. " Your card,"
shouted the story- teller. " I have no such thing," replied
the cool v=senger ; " but if you want to fight I may accom-
modate you. However, before I accept your challenge, let
me inform you that N'Ott have stated that which is false re-
specting the soles of Colonel Taylor's boots, for I clean them
every morning, arid I know that
passenger was
they are not marked as you
understand that
have described." It is unnecessary to attempt a description
grant I to
the servant of Colo7iel Taylor !
of wh at followed. Suffice it to say the cool
ISLE
her M ajesty's ship Hercules, an old 74, but now mounting
ornna.rid! t) guns, has been commissioned at Chatham by Com-
a. Bayntoru (1841) fur the purpose •of conveying emie
ices of the Treasury. Ive
shall watch w' by
ov , itA considerable interest thii experiment
made
, -"tra,rt,---Herabi,
C IA:
' St
r lilYi
a ' EMIGRANTS.--
:id :1•G Rth NI
a) ,
rauass3s._ railway,
w e