The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-08 00:00:00

THE SUN,

TO COR RESPONDE N 1 S
No communication can be attended to unless authen-
ticated by the name and address of the writer.
Rejected canmunications cannot be returned.

=;6
LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1852.

The supercilious impertinence with which Captain
PENNY has been treated by parties connected with
the Royal Navy of England is, by this time, we
should imagine, become matter of sufficient notoriety.
Upon conduct so unbecoming the members of a gal-
lant and distinguished profession we have already
felt it our painfal duty to animadvert. As Eng-
lishmen, and as patriotic lovers of the service, the
name of which has been thus miserably degraded
by the most arrogant assumption of the most petu-
lant exclusiveness, our feelings have revolted at
an exhibition of false pride so derogatory to the
Admiralty of Great Britain. We have recognized
in the proceedings adopted towards Captain PENNY
by the Arctic Committee, and subsequently by the
late Lords Commissioners, conduct such as could only
have called for the scorn of a NELSON and the regrets
of a COLLINGWOOD. The " Blue Book" so frequently
referred to of late in these columns, is enough of itself
to show the consequential manner some officers in the
Royal Navy have deemed it tbe,right of ,their cloth to
assume towards the very able and intelligent
navigator who happened by ill luck to
be nothing ,more illustrious than a simple
captain of a whaler. Had Captain PENNY
been fortunate enough to inhale his first breath of the
salt-water-breeze with a " midshipman's curse" em-
broidered on his jacket, he would have had some little
more consideration shown towards him during the
course of the recent investigation. We should not
then have heard any impertinent allusions to him as
Mr. PENNY either from the floor of the House of Com-
mons, or under the roof-tree of the Admiralty—either
by Admiral BERKELEY or.by any other of " the Lords
Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High
Admiral of England." It might, one would suppose,
have entered into the remembrance of the Arctic Com-
mittee that history is fraught with proofs that the
letters R.N. are not by any means essential to the
professional capacity of any man as a Sea Captain.
The glorious discoverer of Polynesia was no less
admirable a navigator from the fact of his having first
learnt to handle a tarry rope among the colliers of
Newcastle. COLUMBUS, again, was surely not the
leas entitled to respect because he belonged originally
to neither the royal navy of Northern Italy or of the
Peninsula, having acquired the rudiments of seaman-
ship in the merchant vessels trading from the ports of
Genoa and Lisbon. Countless exaenplss of a very
distinguished character, though infeeior, it must be
admitted, to the pre-eminent instance:a afforded by the
biographers of COOKE and Coeuecaus, might be
adduced to shoes that men may learn the difficult ,
science of navigation elsewhere than under the flag of
a royal navy, be it the Royal Navy. of England, of
Spain, of Sardinia, or of any other state in Chris-
tendom. Because Captain PENZIY was not
Captain PENNY, R.N., but simply the Captain
of a whaler in the Arctic seas—he was not, therefore,
we conceive, to be treated with the contempt and
contumely only displayed, under like circumstances,
to a man who has shown the grossest ignorance and
the most culpable incapacity. Such,, however, it is
not for a moment pretended is the oharge directed
against Captain PENNY by captain AUSTIN, by the
Arctic Committee, or by the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty. His crime was merely
that of not belonging to the Royal Navy
of England. He had behaved adminsbly through-
out the whole of the last expedition in search
of Sir JOHN FRANKLIN. Nobody del Lied that. He
had even acquired for himself the distinguished credit
of being the first, and as yet the only navigator who
had discovered any actual and substantial indications
of the route taken by FRANKLIN and his missing com-
panions. Tife Blue Book proclaimed. the fact. It
was a circumstance.notorious to eve ryone. It was
known, moreover, that, besides lighting upon
the track of the Lost Expedition, be had offered
to proceed at once some hundreds of miles further
upon the line of his discovery, if only allowed to pilot
a steam-ship on through the open water, beyond
Wellington Channel. Yet the respo n sibility of the
abrupt and blundering return was transferred to his
shoulders from those of captain AU :,TlN—because
Captain PENNY was not Captain PENHY, R.N.; and
in addition to this, he was studiously treated in a
manner the most overbearing am! consequen-
tial, as if the command of a w baler in the
Arctic seas was really one of the most degrading
and despicable duties that could possibly devolve upon
a created being. Against this course of proceeding
we have long since and repeatedly entered the
strongest protest to which our vocabulary could
enable us to give utterance. Against i 1 s recurrence
we shall always raise our voice in the loudest tones
and in the most decisive language.
As supplementary evidence that such has actually
been the bearing assumed by officers of the Royal
Navy with reference to Captain PENNY, we may
refer to a letter published elsewhere in our im-
pression of this evening, and addressed to ourselves
by a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society—a
letter recounting the fact of the personali ties indulged
in, before that society, by Sir EDWARD BELCHER—
personalities so gross and ungenerous., as having
reference to one who was absent, that they twice
called forth the interposition of the Peesident, Sir
RODERICK MURCHISON. The statements. of our cor-
respondent will speak for themselves, az id to them
we allude, therefore, as to additional testimony of
that professional arrogance which we shall always
take occasion to reprobate as frivolous in, itself, if it
were not at the same time seriously detrimental to
the character of the Maritime Serv',...ce of Great 1
Britain.

Whatever may be said ou other points., the fate of
the Ministry must be decided on its fiscal and com-
mercial policy. The post selected by Mr. DISRAELI
is, therefore, to all intents and purposes, at this
moment not only the most onerous, but by far the
most important in the Cabinet. As it is. to his skilful
andt energetic exertions that the creatio a of the pre-
Government may chiefly be attributed, so it is
on his shoulders that the weight of sustaining it must
mainly rest. Although opposed, in many respects, to
the political views
and opinions of the party in power,
we are yet
disposed to make every reasonable allowance
for the difficulties of their position
and to exhibit
W
the fair play which
ever
Unglishn; an accords even
to his most bitter opponeynt.
e oare f
t‘h` rre
yeber-atsrea :1 a
ar sn
d"
g
in the most extensive signification
it is our anxious desire to remove the remainin clogs
and shackles, by which our trade and commerce are
fettered and impeded. We
do not exdesideratum without pect to achieve
this great tit ,
man
ti until a considerable Jan anxious
struggle, an period has elapsed.
We must take it by instalments, .
"(I we are
convinced that we are
firmly more likely to
no means inconsiderable obtain a by inci
Payment
on account from the present Administration
than from their predecessors—that greater progress
in the right direction may
be anticipated from B.
JAMIR DISRAELI than from Sir CHARLES WOO„).
But it is said that a preliminary question arises—
that the most important branch of free trade may be
endangered, viz., the free and untaxed importation of
articles of primary necessity, such as cereals of every
description, meat, &c., by sanctioning the retention of
office by persons avowedly desirous of imposing a
tariff on all such commodities. It is necessary,
therefore. that the question should be forthwith
" settled"—That no breathing time should be afforded
to the new men—but that they should be com-
pelled forthwith to recant their former opinions, and
enter into the most solemn pledges to keep the peace
towards corn, flour, &c., binding themselves down,
under heavy recognizances, never at any future period
to disturb the arrangement entered into in 1846.
This is the opinion of
Mr.
Conn E • • '
11) Wlll6, it 18
needless to say, must ever carry considerable weight
with Free-traders. It is to promote and
gain converts
i to this line of policy that the Honourable Gentleman

LONDON,

has entered upon a new crusade, and has resumed the
activity which he laid aside in 1846. Believing,
however, that it is an exceedingly injudicious and
mistaken policy which he is advocating, and that he
is at present appealing rather to the passions than to
the reason—that:he is, without the slightest necessity,
exciting a panic, the results of which may be very
prejudicial to the cause of Reform, Parliamentary,
fiscal, and financial, we feel it an imperative duty to
protest against the course indicated by the Hon.
Gentleman.

He insists on the immediate settlement of the
question. Why, it is settled ; it has been long
since settled,, and it is he himself who is once more
forcing on an unnecessary discussion, and disturbing
the entire country, arraying class against class, on a
matter that would probably never again be heard of
—but for his denunciations. It is quite certain that
during the present session the question will not be
brought forward by or on the part of Ministers. The
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER has for some time
advised that the subject should be placed in abeyance
until the nation should pronounce on the matter at
the next general election in unequivocal and unmis-
takeable language. The PREMIER, too, spoke clearly
and distinctly on the point when explaining in the
hereditary branch of the Legislature the reasons
which prevented him from forming a Ministry in
1851, when her MAJESTY had confided the important
trust to his charge. He said, " that in his judgment
the opinion of the country had not yet been taken
upon that important subject; that at a general
election the country will have an opportu-
nity of declaring its opinion, and that if
that opinion should be hostile to the views which he
entertained, he would then bow to the decison of the
country, and abandon. Protection for ever." Such a
pledge from a nobleman not merely of unimpeached
integrity, but who is admitted by even his most
strenuous opponents to be "of the most chivalric
honour," is too important to be lightly relinquished.
It will, we doubt not, be maintained to the very
letter. Let every preparation then be made for the
contest. Let every open constituency (alas I. that the
word "open " must still be used) be canvassed by a
Free-trader, and let the opinion of the country—
the calm and deliberate opinion, firmly but
temperately expressed, be given on the question, and
then the promise of the Earl of DERRY will be valid
and unimpeachable, and we venture to say will be
strictly fulfilled; and the great party of which he is
the head will see the propriety—nay, more, the ne-
cessity, of abandoning their untenable demands. But
if it be otherwise—if the apple of discord be again
flung abroad, and the passions of the people excited
to the highest pitch, we may have many bitter
partizans returned, who will refuse to abide by the
decision of their leader, and the question will be
kept open, a perpetual source of irritation and
annoyance, occasioning the greatest disquietude
and injury to all parties. Let us, then,
avoid the factious course, and confident in the
strength and justice of our cause patiently abide the
period when the several constituencies must proclaim
at the hustings their undying devotion to the sacred
Cause of " untaxed food," and their determination to
maintain the position that has already been achieved
by indefatigable and energetic exertions.
Placing that all-important subject aside, let us
look to other matters. First comes the income-
tax, that unequal, inquisitorial, and oppressive im-
post, that has disgusted the nation, and which
we verily believe mainly led to the Ministerial
resignation of 1851, and the change of Govern-
ment of 1852. Sir CHARLES WOOD staked the exist-
ence of his party on retaining the most objectionable
provisions without change or modification. He ex-
hibited, indeed, an unreasoning and obstinate per-
versity that disgusted his friends and delighted his
opponents. We can never hope for any beneficial
alteration at his hands, but Mr. DISRAELI and Mr.
HERRIES and others have declared that it would be
impossible to maintain the obnoxious impost, in
its present objectionable form, and that if it is to be
retained as a source of permanent revenue, it must be
rendered more equitable. To which of the parties,
then, are we to look for relief on this deeply interest-
ing subject? Not to the 'Whigs, certainly ! And
we can only hope for it by showing fair play to their
successors.

Again the taxes on knowledge come before us.
We recollect the stereotyped answer of Sir CLIARLES
Woo"), that the paper, advertisement, and newspaper
stamp duties produced so many thousands
per annum, which he was certainly not
prepared to relinquish. From him relief was hopeless.
The paper manufacturer should be still annoyed by
the most vexatious Excise regulations, cheap literature
should be discouraged, if not prohibited; the wretched
sempstress seeking for employment, the maid of all
work requiring a situation, should still contribute as
highly to the revenue as the nobleman offering for
sale an estate worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Mr. DISRAELI may correct these crying grievances.
We believe that he is disposed to do so, and look for-
ward, at least with some degree of hope, to his pro-
positions. We would not remove that pleasing anti-
cipation by the premature restoration of the family
party to office, especially if they should by that resto-
ration be imbued with the idea that no other Govern-
ment would be tolerated by the country.

If we consider the other Excise duties or assessed
taxes the result will be the same. From whence is
there the greatest prospect of obtaining a remission
of the hop duties ? a most unjust and unwarrantable
tax, indefensible indeed on any true fiscal principle,
being practically, and, as we have long since asserted,
neither more nor less than direct robbery on a certain
class, who, because they held lands more than usu-
ally valuable, were selected as proper parties to be
cruelly and
.most unjustifiably plundered. Again,
the malt-tax, and others of a similar character, will
probably be taken into consideration, and we may
reasonably anticipate early legislation with respect
thereto. The poor-rates and other local taxation
may very probably be eqUalized, or at least in some
degree more equitably apportioned than at present
We cannot, perhaps, expect that everything will at
once be effected, but we shall at least
have some chance of seeing the course entered upon.
Let the country, then, wait for the production of
Mr. DISRAELI'S budget before a final opinion is
formed. If we should be disappointed, if he should
enter on a retrograde course, we will oppose him with
all our strength ; but once more we say, it is measures,
not men, that are to be regarded, and we should
not reject really beneficial propositions because they
emanate from a quarter that may be regarded with
some delve* of suspicion.

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH-COAST
RAILWAY.

Traffic—Week ending March 6, 1852 ... £7,863 110
Traffic—Week ending March 8, 1851 ... 7,414 13 6
Total of the half-year, to this date, 1852 ... 66,631 13 7
Total of the half-year, to this date, 1851 ... 77,928 2 2
Total number of Passengers—Week ending
March 6, 1852 ... 44,712
Passengers ...£5,692 18 4
Goods ... ... 2,175 3 6

Total ... ... £7,868 , 1 10
Total miles open, 1852, 17314 ; ditto, 1851, 17314.
London Terminus, March 8, 1852.

THE LATE POET MOOEE.—Every one must have
regretted to observe how few, comparatNely speaking, at-
tended the funeral of Thomas Moore on Wednesday morning.
It is gratifying to mention, however, that among those who
offered this last tribute to the memory of the illustrious de-
ceased was Thomas Longman, Esq., one of the distinguished
and munificent firm who were his publishers.

--------- ---
The Hon. George Sydney Smythe has addressed a
letter to a morning newspaper stating that he has not written
a line (with the exception of a review of Mrs. Norton's novel)
in any newspaper since April, 1849.
OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS.—Her Majesty has ap-
pointed J. D. Harding, D.C.L., Queen's Advocate, in succes-
sion to Sir John Dodson, appointed Judge of the Prerogative
Court. Mr. George Alexander Hamilton has appointed Mr.
W. Law, of the Treasury, to be his private secretary. The
following gentlemen have been promoted in the diplomatic
to Mexico ; the lion. Sgackville *est,
service, previous to the retirement of Lord Granville from the
office of Secretary for Foreign Affairs ;—The How. W. Eden,
paid attache to Washin ton ,• Mr. A. Hastings Berkely, ditto
Hou. W. Grey, ditto to Hamilton, ditto to
W, o to Paris ; Mr. F.
Vienna • Mr. tJoseph
Burgh, at Florence; Mr.
' ." • Manley, ditto to Rio Janeiro; Mr.
Hume Burnley, ditto to Lisbon. The following gentlemen
have been appointed unpaid attaches ; Lord Hubert De
ditto to Stutgard ; the
Ellis, at Lisbon; Mr. Henry Capel Lofft, at Turin ; Mr. C.
Middleton, at Madrid; mr. George ' at St. Pa-
Strachey,
tersburgh. H. Ross at Berne; the Hou. James
DR. IC
IVestphall, Hants, on Friday last, one of the
DEATH OF --FATE, CANON OF WINDSOR--BY
the death of the Rev. John Keate, which took place at Hart-
Slety. George's Chapel, Windsor, becomes vacant, ancdanw°
the disposal of the Earl of Derby. It is rumoured t hat the
N wtrey, who succeeded Dr. r-
Rev. Dr. —a. —.mate as head-master
College eighteen years ago, will b
of Eton e appointed to the
The deceased held the rectory of
vacancy. Hartley West-
phall in commendam with the canonry, and was seventy-nine
weal be at
years of age.

3._.,s
4, . n , r'''st
le ,0. k. ! '" • - 'l-- /''' ♦' ''
'' ' ,
, i ,e, GU IM 44 , 441,
*_
r...,,p,.., ,-_,.„.e.,,,-.... ~ v-"
...it
‘4fiklirgiW , .."
' .. - • . st s . .Z. D .-
nit ' .f,
per,„.r ' I•- m 0 , „Atli..., ROn . ..4,..,-,z.e....,
...