The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-28 00:00:00

at various times, and which I repeat now, with regard
to my apprehensions from the extension of the demo-
cratic principle. The noble earl says that he never
knew the country more content—thit he never knew
the time when the masses were more reasonable, or less
disposed to listen to the declamation of agitators. He
sees nothing like the prevalence of democracy, and though
there may be individuals here and there who hold ex-
treme opinions, yet he does not believe that the great
body of the people sympathise with them. My lords,
I concur with the noble earl. I think that the great
body of the people are loyal and devoted to the institu-
tions of the country, and that if they foresaw the conse-
quences of many of the. measures which they demand
upon the constitution and the Government, they would
shrink from them in horror and alarm. But if he asks
me whether the vast body of the people who are placed
in a position below those that are now entitled to the ,

franchise, whether they are capable of foreseeing the ef-

fects of those measures, I say that, though I believe in
their good intentions and in their loyalty, yet I think
there is danger in entrusting with too large a share of
political power persons who have too little, not of intel-
ligence, but too little of acquired information, and too
small a stake in the country to induce thein carefully to
consider what would be the consequences of many of the
measures which they now support. It is on this ground
that I am apprehensive of the spread of the democratic
element in the constitution. I do not fear the
loyalty of my countrymen, but I fear, great
as is the amount of the influence of the House
of Commons at present, and as it necessarily must be
on the constitution of the country I fear serious
danger from an alteration in the character of the consti-

tution of the House of Commons, by throwing the re-
presentation into the hands of the lower or less-informed
classes. Of the particular measure which the noble earl
intends to bring forward, it is impossible for me, from
the language he has used to-night, .to form the slightest
idea. The noble earl, says, that the proceedings at the
recent election have satisfied him 'that the present state
of the representation is unsatisfactory. I shall rejoice if
the noble earl can find a remedy for these abuses ; but
the remedy cannot be in the mere extension of the suf-
frage, for it is in large constituencies that the evils prin-
cipally exist ; but if the noble earl can find the remedy,
then I say that from no one will he receive more cordial
support, however stringent may be the measure, than
from one whom he erroneously supposes to be hostile to
his Administration. I have no feeling of hostility, per-
sonal or political, towards the noble earl. I cannot say,
looking to the composition of his Cabinet, that I have
confidence in its Conservatism ; but if the noble earl is
prepared to act on what I believe to be his own prin-
ciples, he may rely not only on receiving no hostility
from us, but that we shall give our support to him or to
any other person under whose auspices the Government
is steadily, safely, and constitutionally carried on, in the
truly Conservative sense of the word, not shrinking from
useful amendments, but strenuously resisting organic
changes, and preventing all interference with the essen-
tial balance of the constitution. (Hear, hear.)

The house then adjourned till the 10th of February
next.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

By letters received from Gibraltar under date of the

14th inst., we find that the squadron under Vice Ad-
miral Dundas was still in the bay awaiting orders from
home.

We hear that the squadron under the gallant admiral
is in excellent order, and what is equally gratifying,
both officers and men are happy and comfortable. There
is quite4nough of drilling and exercising, without any
unnecessary or vexatious annoyances.
The crews of the Vengeance and Phaeton, on parting,
company with the Mediterranean squadron for the pur-
pose of-joining that under Rear Admiral Corry, loudly
cheered their former comrades, and we are assured that
for many years so exciting a scene had not been wit-
nessed either in a home or foreign port.