The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-23 00:00:00

tifies that could they have made

of their magazine a good newspaper,
_ _

could have easily gained attention to more per-
manently useful knowledge through the news.
Hence he denounced this " last penny (th,:penny
stamp) as the worst penny of all." There is but
one of the present daily papers, (of any business
or intellectual merit, which would not augment
its circulation incalculably were it wholly untaxed.
Each would, at least, have five readers for one.

This alone would increase. the Advertisements
largely, and the Advertisements, again, would aid
the sale. It is not chimerical, indeed, to hope

that our daily papers, if untaxed, might have a
tenfold sale. But a yet larger class of readers
would be created by an immensely increased cir-
culation of local newspakers. Thousands who
now take only a weekly local paper, would add
to that a daily London journal ; but tens of
thousands who see no paper at all, or who
go to the beer-shop and waste their families'
bread to see one, would have one at home,
and would read it at their own break-
fast or supper table. Here, again, would
be an immense field for Advertisements.

But here would be the welcome schoolmaster also,
the instructor whose teaching is no task, whose
lessons, though adapted at first to the tastes of
his learner, so far as to interest him, would ad-
vance with the intelligence of his pupils, and
while better than nothing- at first, would soon
become of great social, and ultimately even of
great intellectual, value. It has been the fashion
to cry down the newspaper as a tutor for the
many. Let, however, the majority of our readers
ask themselves how many other books they them-
selves get through in a year ? They get the paper
because of the news ; that is glanced at ; it is laid
aside for business hours ; but the leisure of the
evening comes, and all that ig interesting is looked
over, and perhgps read in the domestic circle.
Why should the illiterate, then, be expected to
read books more than the great mass of their
betters ? Or, on the other hand, why, as they
share the common desire for news, why should
not they be like:y to acquire also much incidental
knowledge from a newspaper, which, like their
betters, they will never obtain from any other
source ?

We have room to notice but one point more.
There can be no doubt that the real reason for
retaining the taxes on knowledge is the dislike of
our aristocracy to the people's acquiring political
knowledge. We are confident they are wrong in
this, even for their own objects. They dread, in
plain English, exposing what one of our greatest
legislators termed " the shameful parts of the
Constitution," in Church and State, to the popu-
lar gaze. But we ask, Where do you find the
greatest moderation, even on these subjects ? It
is, after all, amongst those who can read and
think. These " shameful" things must be got
rid of eventually, and this will be done none the
worse for our populace being accustomed to hear
both sides on these subjects. The tendency of
habitual reading is on the whole to enlighten,
and hence to moderate rather than to irritate.
Confident do we feel, that did our working people
read the debates of Hon. Members and Noble
Lords, or even abstracts of them, it would do
much to soothe political discontent ; it would
at least tend to guide it into safe and useful
channels. The present is, however, a time of
remarkable political quiet. The working classes
are, on the whole, satisfied. It is, therefore,
the very hour to throw open the newspaper to
the million, and begin to educate them in the
great social principles which they cannot violate
with impunity. We firmly believe, that in this
country, where good sense and moderation are
sure to have the preference, the immediate eman-
cipation of the newspaper press, might save the
need of regular and yeomanry cavalry, in the
next time of commercial pressure, whenever it may
come. Poo; indeed, must be the newspaper which
would not educate our working men to perceive
the folly of strikes, and of physical force assem-
blies. Poor, indeed, if it did not better pre-
pare him for those full rights of citizenship to
the attainment of which their class is rapidly
tending, whether Cabinets like it or not. Opera-
tives will soon be electors ; they will become so
more safely the longer they have enjoyed the
training of the newspaper.

The Duke of Wellington, we understand, contemplates
brthwith throwing open Apsley House to the public, under
certain regulations, it order that they may view the mag-
nificent collection of presents given by foreign Sovereigns
to his late lamented and illustrious father. It is, we be-
lieve, an acknowledgment on the part of his grace for the
late munificent grant of 80,0001. for the late duke's inter-
ment.
The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland and family have
left Stafford House, St. James's, for Lilies Hall, Shrop-
shire, whence their graces proceed to Trentham Hall, for
the holidays. The duchess is expected to pass through
London the second week in the ensuing month, en route to
Windsor Castle, on a visit to the Qr eon, having been in-
vited by her Majesty, with other distinguished personages,
to witness the first of a series of private theatrical perform.
ances at the above regal residence.
CITY ORTHOPcEDIC HOSPITAL, HATTON GARDEN.—
HANDSOME DONATIGH.—At a recent meeting of the com-
mittee and friends ef the above institution, held in the
Board Room—Dominic Ffrench Duff, Esq., in the chair,—
some routine businese having transpired, it was stated by
Timothy Pollock, Esq., that the handsome donation of
thirty guineas had been given to the funds of the hospital
by George Bishop, jun., Esq., of Balls Park, Hertford, in
addition to an annual subscription of 201., for the purpose
of maintaining an extra bed for the accommodation of in-
patients. The senior surgeon, E. J. Chance, Esq., of Old
Broad Street, in answer to an inquiry, stated that since the
opening of the institution, in June, 1851, up to the present
time, there were no less than 1,212 patients on the books,
and as no letter of recommendation was required, almost
every a fish accession of patients.
mE dayND ELbroughtsN ORATORIO
ELIJAH will be performed
first time this scum; this evening (Thursday), by the
London Sacred Harmonic Society, under the direction of
soll
Mr. Surman, founder of the Exeter Hall oratorios ; also,
an Elegy, "Mourn ft the Mighty Dead," composed by
Sir Henry Biala?, Principal singers, Mrs. Endersohn,
Miss Dolby, Mr. ockey, and Mr. H. Phillips,
ASTLEY'S AMPHI7'IEATRE.—The pantomime in pre-
paration here bears the title of Fortunio and his Horse
Comrade, or, HarleNin, and Seven Gifted Men, and is
written by the celebrated pantomimic author, Mr. Nelson
Lne brilliantst s h
effects,ceehe
spectators. w) have reason to believe, will be of a
most
ar4ter ; dazzling groups, gorgeous para-
phernalia,neszsupernatural splendour, will delight
The comic portion will be
and
d .
astonish
The
and sh
t
very ably sustained Messrs. Melbourne Ella, Gardner
Boleno, Priorson, an; R. Hemming, are respectively the
Harlequin, Clown, )antaloon, and Sprite, and Madlle.
Christine the Columllne. A grand treat awaits the visitors
of Astley's on Boxini Night.
CABINET THEAT4.—The first performance of the
London Dramatic Clth took place at the above theatre on
Tuesday last, before a crowded audience, the entertainments
commencing with tnowles's play of The Hunchback.
Miss Mortimer PlaYel Julia excellently ; her reading of the
part was lucid and 4th:wt. This young lady is the clever-
est amateur actress cf the day, and only wants bringing out
to become a valuable acquisition to the stage, possessing all
the qualities requis!te for the profession. Master Walter
was very ably sustained by Mr. W. Howard, who seemed
to have a thorough conception of this arduous character.
Messrs. Ryder ana Roterts, as Lord Tinsel and Master
Heartwell, played with their usual ability. The farce of
Mrs. White followed, in which Mr. Pitt, as Frank Brown,
sung a very sweet ballad in so expressive a manner that it
was redemanded. Mr. Selby's farce of The Unfinished
Gentleman concluded the evening.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT.—A moulder, named William
Davis, 50 years of age, employed at Mr. William Riley's
work, at Mill-fields, Wolrerhampton, met with his death
on Thursday last, under the following distressing circum-
stances' was engaged in assisting to draw an iron cast-
ing up with a creme for the purpose of removing it out of
his way, to enable him to proceed with his work ; and when
the casting was suspended by an iron chain, he ran under
it ; the hook of the chain suddenly gave way, and the sus-
pended mass, -weighing upwards of four tons, fell upon
him, forced his head and neck against an anvil, and nearly
severed his head from his body, killing him upon the spot.
FRIGHTFUL OCCURRENCE.—Yesterday afternoon, a
frightful accident occurred to William Hulbury, barge-
man, who resided at Sudbury. It appears that the man
was at work on a barge in the Paddington Canal, when ho
accidentally slipped, and fell headforemost into the cabin.
He was instantly picked up and conveyed to St. Mary's
Hospital, where Mr. Lane, surgeon, and Mr. Bullock, house
surgeon, were in immediate attendance, when it was found
that his skull was fractured, beside other injuries, and the
least excitement might cause instant death.
MURDEROUS ASSAULT.—Yesterday afternoon infor-
mation was received from St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington,
of a murderous assault that was committed on William
Walker, aged 11 years, residing at 3, Burn's-place, Chapel-
street, Paddington, imam- the following circumstances :
It appears, from inquiries on the spot, that three boys were
playing near a neighbour's shop, belonging to a person of
the name of But, and from some cause which at present
cannot be clearly ascertained, he rushed out and beat the
sufferer over the head and face with either a whip or a
stick, lacerating his cheek, and severely injuring the eye,
great doubts belig expressed whether he will ever regain
the use of it. Ile was conveyed to the above hospital,
under the care of Mr. Lane, surgeon, where ho remains in
a precarious state.

NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA.-It appears that the Lady
Flora, just arrived, left in Melbourne, on the 6th August,
about seventy sail of ships, amounting in the aggregate to
some 35,000 tons, a few of them getting men at 101. for the
ilttn to Sydney and Adelaide, while others were quite de-
serted by all but the masters, with little chance of getting
away. It was with the greatest difficulty that the captain of
the Lady Flora could get a crew for London at 501. for the
run home, Vessels for India, ho states, could not obtain
a man for any amount of pay.