The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-18 00:00:00

LONDON,

meeting of all creeds of voters ever gathered together
in Peterborough. The meeting was most orderly,
and Mr. Whalley was listened to with marked and
respectful attention ; the bursts of applause with
which his speech was every now and then interrupted
clearly showed, long before the conclusion of his elo-
quent speech, that the meeting, although entire
strangers to him, were heart and soul in his favour.
It now remains to be seen whether the Noble
Lord at Milton will attempt the foolhardy
experiment of forcing his nominee upon the electors.
There is a complete fusion of the Radicals and Con-
servatives. Disastrous would be defeat, and shame-
ful the disgrace which one who has always termed
himself the friend of Reform measures would sustain
the
future upp r
must handhe ofoo hiscontent
sbhl en eLs so
Lord getstisnen
t discretion.w it
h one
seat, and leave the people to choose their other
TifhheisNrao
representative.

FRANCE.
We read in the Constitutionnel, on the subject of
the pretended commercial treaty between France and
England :

" The Government, as we well foresaw, has given
another contradiction to the reports circulated' by a
London journal of the conclusion of a treaty of com-
merce between France and England. These, rumours
are without foundation; no negotiation of the kind has
been opened between the two countries. The persistence
of the English journals in repeating a piece of news
which was contradicted scarcely a month since proves
the importance which our neighbours attach to the con-
clusion of a treaty of commerce with us. The French
market is, in fact, a very good one, and it may be cod-
ceived that the manufacturers of Great Britain regard it
with an envious eye, There are 36 millions of in-
habitants who are great consumers of coal, iron, steel,
and wove goods of all kinds. Unfortunately this indus-
trious population has, thanks to protecting duties, been
able to provide for all their wants. But what good
fortune would it not be for the English producers, if,
in flattering our national self-love and in persuading us
that we are strong enough to meet any competition they
could induce us ourselves to reject the assistance of
tariffs and open our frontiers to British produce. This
is what they dream of on the other side the Channel,
and it is but just to say that we have in France free-
trade disciples who do their best to keep up these chi-
merical hopes. It certainly is not the fault of the Go-
vernment of Louis Napoleon If all these projects still
find some belief. The Prince President himself took
care to make known in his works the principles he pro-
fessed in matters of commercial economy. Faithful to
great Napoleonist traditions he took the defence of
principles which secured a legitimate remuneration to
national labour. What has been done since his accession
to power, if it is not on every occasion to give the most
manifest proofs of his lively solicitude for our agricul-
tural and manufacturing interests? It would be sense-
less to believe that Louis Napoleon would destroy with
his own hands a system of political economy which was
one of the most glorious works of the Emperor, and to
which France owes her prosperity. However this may
be, the two declarations which the Government have
made within the last month cannot fail to exercise the
most favourable influence. It is not only a contradiction
to the assertions of the English journals, but it is, at the
same time, a reply to the declamations and attacks which
our Free-traders have recently directed against the pro-
tective regime. Manufacturers require stability. It is
necessary, in order that operations may be entered on
which require time and capital, that they can rely on the
maintenance of the laws which regulate their move-
ments. They became uneasy in the presence of rumours,
which were revived, notwithstanding the first denial
given to them, This second declaration will restore
confidence. In seeing the Government assume a
posi-
tion so candid and so resolute they will redouble their
activity, and will prove by fresh efforts that they are
worthy of the protection which is given to their efforts.