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

MISCELLANEOUS.

Colburn's United Service contains its usual amount
of military information, and, as might be expected,
dwells pretty largely on the national defences. There
are three chapters devoted to projectiles, &c., and a
criticism en. Sir Charles Napier's address to the Go•
vernment on the national defences. The article on
"Piracy on the Coast of Borneo" is ably written, and
justly censures the conduct of the humanitarian fac-
tion for blaming Sir James Brooke for molesting the
innocent aborigines, who, however, instead of fishing
in a small corricle, according to Mr. Hume's version,
navigate prahus one hundred feet long, containing
upwards of one hundred and fifty men. A brief
outline of the visit of. the Nepaulese Ambas-
sador to London and his previous history are original.
Newton's 'London Journal of this month contains
several interesting descriptions of divers patents lately
granted, amongst which are Howard's, for the improv-
ment in ploughs, and Adams's, for improvements in
rifles and other firearms. The article on " Preserved
Meats for the Naval Service" remarks on the fearful
scourge that the scurvy was to our navy not long
since, and the benefits derived from the substitution
of preserved meats in place of salt provisions. As
evidence of the dreadful havoc caused by this disease,
Admiral Anson's memorable expedition to damage
the interests of Spain in the Pacific Ocean by inter-
cepting' the annual treasure-ship, or galleon, on her
return to Europe, is sufficient. In spite of everything
that care end experience could do, Anson tells us he
lost fully four-fifths of his men by scurvy :—Of four
hundred. men with whom the Centurion left England
only two-hundred lived to reach the island of Juan
Fernandez, and no more than eight of these were
capable- of doing duty. The list of patents
granted, and other general information is to
be found as usual up to the present time.
The Colonial contains a history of the aboriginal tribes
of Australia, and the discovery of New Zealand.'
Fredrick Hestage discovered Australia in 1616, and
called it New Holland, but although many Dutch
ships visited the coast in the hope of making disco-
veries, it was not until 1642 that the south coast of
Australia and Van Diemen's Land was discovered by
Tasman, who so named it in compliment to his be-
trothed, the daughter of the Governor of the Mau-
ritius, the fair Maria Van Diemen. The account of
the destruction of Lagos, the decline of the slave
trade, and the history of the Kafir war, are inte-
resting. The Sportsman of this month contains an
interesting article entitled "The Pedigree of Volti-
geur—Origin of the Race-horse"—with a table of
pedigrees. The plates, which are executed in their
usually well-got-up style, represent horses at
rest in the fields, entitled " Hours of Idle-
ness," and the. result of " A Decided Course."
The Journal of Agriculture, and Transactions of the
Highlaxd Agricultural Society of Scotland, commences
with an article on artificial manure, in which is shown
the various amalgamation of ingredients most suitable
for different soils, with an analysis of their chemical
compounds ; bone dust, and its applications, are
particularly noticed. There is also practical infor-
mation tea be found in the chapter on the properties
of clays most suitable for draining-tiles and other
purposes. An article by Mr. Ritchie, C.E.,
on the
comparative advantages of fixed and portable steam-
engines for agricultural purposes, gives an interest-
ing account of some of the various machines at pre-
sent in use and in contemplation. In the Gentleman's
Magazine the articles of this month are in their
usual well-written style; but we would advise the
editor to curtail the list of deaths, which he is too
fOnd.Of "publiihing, and which few care to read.

DISTRHIUTION OF THE ARMY.
The following is an official statement of the distribu-
tion Of the effective rank and filo at home and abroad on
the Ist January, 1852:
In Great Britain—
Cavalry 4,622
Foot Guards ... .„ 4,504
Infantry of the Line... 21,003
Recruiting troops and companies ... 1,858
----- 31,987

In Ireland—
Cavalry ... 2,022
Infantry ... ... 14,536
16,558
Abroad—(exclusive of India)
Cavalry - 425
Infantry 30,361
West India Regiments ... 2,740
Colonial Corps ... ... 4,550
---- 38,079
In' India:L...
Cavalry • • • ... 3,345
Infantry 23,443

26,788

Total effective rank and file 113,412
It will at once be seen by our military readers that
the above official statement excludes officers, non-com.
mi•sioned officers, drummers, and trumpeters; these
ranks, however, may be stated in the, proportion of about
1 to 7i, which would give 15,000 more—making a total
of 129,000 in round numbers of all ranks serving at
home and abroad (including India) on January 1, 1852.

PROPOSED BREAKWATER' ON THE MERSEY.--A
report just submitted to the Liverpool Chamber of Com-
merce' by Mr. W. M. Ross contains a project, devised by Mr.
George Rennie, C.E., for the reclamation from the sea of the
vast sand.banks in the estuary of the River Mersey by means
of a breakwater extending seaward from the Black Rock
Point, five miles in length. If carried into execution, it is
stated that, besides being the means of averting much loss of
life and froperty,it will materially improve the entrance to
the port in a navigable point of view, There are two other
projects arising from this—one being for the application of
the sewage manure to the neighbouring lands, and the other
the formation of a local building society, its purpose being
the very desirable one of "making every man the owner of
his own house." A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce
ill
will be held to-morrow (Thursday), when the projects w
be entertained.
CHRIST'S HOSPITAL.—The annual distribution of
gifts awarded by the governors of Christ's Hospital to young
men who had been educated at that magnificent national
institution, and who had subsequently completed their vari-
intetell'
ous terms a apprenticeship, took place yesterday morning.
The number whd. presented themselves at the committee-
room amounted to nearly 100; and it was truly gratifying
cently awarded to
gratuit'nen ffere
to witness such._ an. array of strong, healthy-looking young
and all bearing the impression of respectability and
to pursue their young were.
The gifts ,were...from 5/. to lbl. each. The
form the basis of-futth
gratuities.,: and it is to
suitably addressed on:the receipt of their
The various 'reci
purposes for: wbleli '
presents they be hoped that these sums, so munifi-
cently merit, will be devoted to the
pientusre domestic comfort and independence.
had
re the utmost gratitude for the
they were intended, and that they will ,
Last week, as one of the. respective avocations.
soon after quitted the walls
Whittlesey Mere, he heard
of Christ's 4ospital
Thinking she might be caught
a hen was cutting
in ea Cry out at some distance.
the foxes,
spot, when be saw poor puss surrounded he hastened reed
to theon
tlae circle rottfid hered by
three foxes, gra-
fiduxaeldly?wlntahrrfooefraw:i.astigid
the reed
by the foxes
isd soon
likewiseas th e
theseeninahnarly.e:sBbhe appeared trans-
The. water having been takenut ,in
an opposite
they made
shoals, they form a favourite and secure retreat to
a great 'many of which are now harboured in the reed reed sedge
\
and flags, to the great loss of the ponitryyards in the neigh.
bourhood.— Cambridge Chronicle.
The .Chancellor of
Thoma§ reregriae cu , Esq., WO the Exchequer has appointed
rteuay, ty be PriTprivatesecre-
,
tikry. . .
, .

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
- FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
TIME.—Lord Derby's appeal to the forbearance of
his opponents, and the demand 'of e fe,:_r trial, which we
have thought it our duty to support, have been warmly
combated on two distitet grounds; first, that the new
Ministers deserve y grace; secondly, that there is actual
danger in granting it. Into the first of these points we
shall not be very curious to inquire. The second objec-
tion to " a fair trial" is its alleged danger. Give the
ground, we aro assured, so as to dispense with its appeal
,
aGdovmerisnnaericeonrtditeinmi.e and it will he able to maintain its
It will gain over members and con-
stituencies, put out some plausible measures and illusory
promises, and then open the new Parliament with a mite_
jority pledged, we will say, to a five-shilling duty. Are
we to wait quietly for such a consummation, and, should
it come to pass, whom are we to thask but ourseves?
To be sure there will be a remedy, but it will be us
bad as the disease. We shall have the League, an
agitation, and a new budget of democratic
measures, by way of revenge or set-off against
the claims of the landed aristocracy. The right
course, we are told, is to stop the nuisance at
once before it becomes worse, by turning out the Go-
vernment with the first means in our power. For all
this there is a good deal to bo said; in particular, that
some who say it are already making the advent of Lord
Derby the signal of a class agitation. We will address
ourselves, then, to this allegation of actual danger. We
may as well grant at once that Lord Derby might
pos-
sibly get a House of Commons with a majority in favour
of a five-shilling duty. He —e might do this next month,
and he might do it in August, and, as far as we can see,
he is as likely to do so in the one month as in the other;
for, if prices continue to rise, there will be rather less
case for protection in August than in April. With such
a House of Commons, we are told on both sides, we I
shall have no right to complain if a five-shilling duty is 11
carried, constitutionally, freely, and deliberately, by the
representatives of the whole people. Are we prepared,
the Protectionist journals ask, to rebel against the act of
the Legislature? As we accepted the last decision on
the subject, we ought to accept the IIOW one; and the cir-
cumstance of the new decision being to some extent a re-
versal of the first will only impart to it a more solemn cha-
rbay hctetr.e
influencetheTbisisof m
danger then, that by our forbearance,
Ministerial
patronage, by the
gradual encouragement given to the lurking selfishness
of agriculturists in Parliament,
and by other such ways,
we may find ourselves face to face early next rear with
Protection, no longer a farmers' cry, or a Ministerial
leaning, but a law of the land, which we shall be bound
to respect and obey, and for which the Septennial Act
will insure at least a seven years' least,. Meanwhile,
what
evening contemporary assures us that Lord Derby's ap-
pearance on the Ministerial bench has already inter-
ruptedis danger to one side is hope to the other. An
some negotiations in Lincolnshire, and that seve-
ral leases are waiting till it can be aseertained, on the
authority of Parliament, what the price of corn is to be
for the future. To all this we have a sufficient reply.
Although
House of Commons may be returned with a slight ma-
jority
in fiat
vios
ucro conceivable, iav ab l e,
Corn-law;and perhaps
yet, out of doors, on
that very appeal which Lord Derby has
made, the
judgment of the population and intelligence of this
country will remain the same, or, rather, more
than ever in favour of free trade. To use a homely
expression, "the proof of the pudding is in the
eating," and never was there such substantial and
as there has
, the country is
beenpsensible
oe
fd d
calamitiese mf
r eo
en s t rt
ra
at idat
ts
t m,
eas
andu indeedmeasures,
disturbed the
do not " know
foofNlliociatswpitthrhiansttcaihpuadlevineg the
tm-
And, as Sir
Palpably to
nearly all understandings, in the enjoyment of a pres-
aoperationoomf
etnhte, s eb y bee
vneerfiyci etne
Jamese ri t y s
Gu
rc
ah h asa m i
fit
ayhass,
yhsa.s
the reason why." We know that no majority in the
tnheevreer
asreee nf e
wb ewf ohroe .
House, were it ever so disposed, would dare to restore
one shred of Protection, in the face of an almost unani-
mous people. " What then ?" it will be asked ; " Do
you set the people against the Legislature, and allege
that the people are not represented in the House of
Commons ?" We will answer plainly. The people are
not represented as they should be in the House of
Commons, otherwise we should not have supported the
demand for Parliamentary Reform, or objected to
the inadequate and illusory character of Lord
John Russell's Bill. Happily the House of Com-
mons have of late years extended its sympa-
thies far beyond its narrow electoral basis, and has been
in effect what it has not been in form—a very fair re-
presentation of the whole British people. But, if a
violent class agitation should have the unfortunate re-
sult of producing class representatives, pledged to the
supposed interests of the actual electors, then nothing
whatever would prevent the question of Parliamentary
reform from starting at once into formidable prominence.
We cannot answer for the measures which might become
necessary under such a self condemnation of the exist-
ing electoral system. A system that works tolerably
will command the suffrages of the quiet and the wise;
but as soon as it works ill its anomalies become odious
and absurd. Here aro Dorset and Middlesex, each with
14 Membere while the population of the former is only
177,597, that of the latter 1,895,710, or more than 10
times as much. Bucks and Surrey have each 11 Mem-
bers, though the population of the former is only
143,670, while that of the latter is 684,805. Wilts,
Sussex, Kent, and the West Riding have each 18 Mem-
bers, though the population of the first is only 241,003,
that of the second 339,428; that of the third 619,225;
and . that of the fourth 1,339,962. Hants, with a
population of 432.033, has 19 Members; Devon, with a
population of 572,207, has 22 Members; and Lancashire,
with a population of 2,063,913, or more than twice those
of Hants and Devon put together, has no more than 26
Members, though in the same proportion it would have
nearly 90. Such a state of things cannot remain long,
end Lord John Russell never said a more unwise thing
than when he claimed for his new Refbrm Bill the credit
of not disturbing the interests established by the last,
whatever the actual changes of the population, wealth,
and intelligence in the long interval. We aro for a
considerable change, but we tremble to think of the
changes that might rise out of a new Anti-Corn-law
agitation. But it is our full conviction that Lord Derby
and his colleagues have no intention whatever of putting
the country into this state, and exhibiting a Legislature
on one side, and a principle on the other. Even if they
had a majority of the New House of Commons in favour
of Protection, we feel sure that the would not willingly
avail themselves of it. Vo'
- 0 must however, say we are
not without some alarm, when we see npeople doing
all they can to provoke a new Protectionistma uarrel, and
to drive the Ministry into it int
of themselves.
It is too clear, from the proceedingsle()of the Man-
chester meeting yesterday, and frora various other
symptoms, that there exists a 1 2 t who revel
with delight in the idea of another ar-e • V" who
the
agricultural and manufacturing inteollistionand
who will
spare no pains to bring it about.eress,circular
The very
which has summoned the Leaguers the reconstruction
of the League, talks of " the made; to
and wicked attempt to
reimpose a tax upon corn," which t yet made on
even threatened, and which has isnoexistence than
that the Manchester gentlemen
silo other
determined that it
shall be. It is possible that they
y succeed to the
extent of their wishes ;
-n provoking gma many of the Agri-
sent to demand iroteetion, andu-
pled e their repre-
atives to the attempt; but, if they pledge
it will be
entirely their act, and for their own urposes. For our
part, as the new Government has comeP into power sim-
ply through the incompetency
and internal divisions of
the last, we see no reason why
it should take up the
Manchester challenge merely for the
.ur
p pose of throw-
ing the country into confusion. We." appreciate at its
proper worth Mr. Cobden'a pretence to superior
morality, when he employs
all
his rhetorical arts to
tempt his opponents to do what he and they equally be-
lieve to be wrong under existing circumstances. Their
own common sense. and patriotism will be far better
guides on this point than the bland apostle of peace.
DAILY NEWS.—The installation
tectionist Ministry
has done its work. Whilst a meet-
ing of Reformers was in Progress yesterday in London,
the Anti-Corn-Law League Was b •
eing re-constructed in
Manchester; and
that there 'night be no misconception
upon the matter, the manufacturers present in Newell's-
buildings subscribed with the same abundant liberality
which marked their former p •
roceedings. Here is a
summary, received by electric telegraph, of the list of
moneys put down to re-organize the needful agitation
for free trade:—
Fourteen firms, subscribed each
1,000/ —14,000/.
61 Fourteen firms, each 500/......7,000/. *
" Fifty other subscribers, rags.
ging . to 10/.
from 300/
e Total, 27,500/. subscribed in twenty five minutes,
the meeting concluding With
three cheers. for the re-
construction of the League."
Twenty-seven thousand five hundred pounds as a be-
ginning is a tolerably sig earle nifi s sign of the reality of
the sgitation which the advent of rho Tories to power has
called into existence. Free trade is in danger, and
down comes the cash.. There elin
be no doubt or
mistake in this diirtion. The declarations of the
platform are with promptitude
business-like
followed b
drafts on the banker; and strong resolutions are
strengthened by a still .
.stronger subscription list.
Newall's-buildings is to exhibit the renewal of that me-
morable struggle which ended in the abolition of the
corn-laws. Printers and platforms will be in request,
and
overtevey post and every newspaper will carry more or
less the country the arguments, the illustrations,
the suggestions, and the figures best adapted to show
the bulk of the people why they should oppose
re-
newal of the tax on bread, and how theYlda
should o o
work to make their opinions on the subject tell upon
the Tory Ministry. The Reformers
of Lanca-
shire set an excellent example to the rest of the
dom in this respect at all events, for when
the begin
king-
thing they do so with a clear purpose, and cayrr it on
1 with a firmness, a business-like regularity, „dya clear
eye to the " main chances" of sucessa__
whilst they
support each effort by a liberality et.
monetary con-
tribution which renders their triumphs r g in political
propagandism only second to that.. Which
has hitherto
crowned their trade competition for a place in the mar-
kets of the world. Would that the
fconcord of Lancashire
could be extended to the rest_ o the
country and be
made to include all sections f
o Reformers;thin for only by
singleness of action can greatk domgash be accomplished.
Liberals in all parts of the
msgo ould act in union.
The manufacturers, who feelstrongly on the subject
to feel
of free trade, should be able
b soo that the great
cherish
safety of the principle t
efyair field and and sin-
cerely—the principle of a
me_
a free no favour—an
intereommunion of comme
of the exchangeb of the
productions of all nationsglobe, brother-like
should see, w
one with another—they
this' e Say, that the
for '
t and only securebasis
senlightened doc-
trinegrea
must be in "la en amelioration
amongst us
feudal system as shall render
and reform of our still
the Commons House _.
of parliament in fact—what it
s has been
-in name and theory alwayle.
Whilst _ an exponent of
the views of the whole peop
.. the owners of the
of witting a large body of their
soil hold the power
~... ,
nnlainees to Me On popsy (1"3"9114 Of trade and

general commercial welfare as may best suite the vested
interests of the hitherto dominant class, free-trade can
never be quite secure. The land is, of course, entitled
to its fair share of representation, but then labour should
have its share of representation also. Let the industry,
the intelligence, and the skill of the country, have poli-
tical influence, and not keep all the power for opulent
leisure and its wealthy territorial prejudice. To this
result the country must come at last, and until it does so
these repetitions of old struggles—this re-sharpening of
old weapons and revival of political combinations, must
from time to time be resorted to. " A large body of
Liberal Members of the House of Commons have been
invited to meet Lord John Russell ou the 11th inst., with
a view to some consultation and determination ou the pre-
sent position of public affairs." So says a valued correspon-
dent, thus intimating that the Whig leader is alive to
the necessities of his present case, and desires to take
counsel fur its improvement. The two meetings reported
in our columns this day sufficiently attest the fact that
the Liberals are also on the alert. Mr. Charles Villiers's
motion is impending in the Fouse of Commons—no day
being yet fixed for the conflict that must ensue, come
when that motion may. All these signs show the exist-
ence of vigilance in the camp of the Reformers and
Free-traders. Such signs are more than enough also
to put upon their guard the vigilant partisan Ministry
against whose policy it is the object of Ell Liberals to
act. The Tories will be united enough. Let us take a
lesson in this respect from their book; and then, with
all our forces—with right, truth, justice, energy, and
straightforwardness on our side—there is no doubt which
way the balance must turn. Lord Derby may be strong
in his position, in his wealth, and in his faith in rotten
boroughs and in agricultural delusion; but after the events
of yesterday, it is au easy prophecy that the struggle
now beginning must end in representative reform and
the final and complete ratification of our Free-trade
policy.

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFORD
REFORM ASSOCIATION.
(CONTINUED ON MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS.)
Sir,—l want to know whether the terms on
which the government is declared by the Prime
Minister to be holden, are not striking a heavy blow
against the principle or prejudice which used to say,
that government was to be carried on through a ma-
jority in the House of Commons. It may only be a
prejudice; and this is an era when prejudices are
being cut down. For example, there has for a cen-
tury or two been a prejudice in favour of popular
governments, and one nation after another has been
putting out feelers in that direction, with different
degrees of success, and always with a complimentary
recognition that our own island, from its geopraphical
position it may ba, had taken something like a lead.
But now all this is being swept away. The last new
prejudice is, that the great want of a nation is an
autocrat. First catch your autocrat ; clean and
scrape him, preserving the blood and the trail ; stew
him in a gravy of Universal Suffrage or any other
you like, stirring with a: one-pronged fork as long
as there are any bubbles ; season with Cayenne pep-
par, and serve up hot, with sausages and champagne.
Your autocrat is the contrary of your turtle • in the
latter, they say it is only the sauce, but in the other
the essential is the autocrat, and he may choose his
own trimmings. But the great thing is to have an
autocrat. This is the last and newest prejudice.
Perhaps this, like others, will pass away. France,
worn out by the prose evils of self-government, has
thrown herself into a romance of slavery. But Eng-
land, commercially at least, may not be prepared for
doing the same. No prejudice is to be put down too
hastily. Battles, for example, by sea and land, have
for a century together, being won and lost by a pre-
judice; and he that should have opposed the pre-
judice rashly, would have lost the battle. Napoleon
upset the old prejudice by something directly the
contrary, and by it conquered the European conti-
nent. No man can tell which prejudices are right.
Perhaps they change, as ministries do, and like them
will change for ever. Only do not go too rapidly to
pull down our old constitutional prejudice, which was
that government was conducted through majorities in
the House of Commons. Now here comes a Prime
Minister and says, he knows he is in a minority in
one House, and is not sure he is not in the other.
Who then is the new " Grand Regulate' in
Great Britain ? It used to be the Parliament ;
it is now clearly to be somebody else. Only
let us know who it is. Let us have him
described zoologically. Is he a how) sapiens, or of
the woods ? Is he lay, clerical, or common of two ?
Is he individual, or aggregate ? We want to have
some conception of what it is that has superseded
the old power of Parliaments; that we may fall down
and worship it if it is
worthy of our prostration, or
if not, may treat it like other calves whether of gold
or vulgar brass. We must have knowledge on these
points, that we may know how to guide ourselves in
the great day of reaction, which cannot fail to be
near, now that the last hour of the night has been
struck on our own clock.

Excuse me if I say, I have always been ambitious
of leading your working men. It is the same ambi-
tion which makes men desirous of leading a battalion.
Anybody can shine at a levee, if he puts lace enough
on his back. But the thing worth trying for, is to
have the confidence of hundreds of good men, and
show them the way to success. I want your
working classes to see and understand, how totally
and immeasurably hostile all that is now going on is
to their honest interests. The whole object aimed at,
is to put them on two-thirds allowance of bread.
The new Chancellor of the Exchequer in the cha-
racter of a recruiting sergeant will come among them,
and shake a purse for any man who will consent to
take,it by the damage of his neighbour. The whole
scheme is to invite the public to enrich itself by one
man taking out of the pockets of another at the
corner of the street. It is much worse than this, for
part of the bargain is, that half shall be thrown into
the river. This supreme silliness is what is now to go
the rounds. And if the working classes do not see into
the fraud, I have not more confidence in the middle.
It was by mere luck, that a five-shilling duty on corn
was escaped before ; and that luck has been thrown
away. I do not want.to speak slightingly of the middle
classes ; but they have not the nerve of the workers.
In times of danger, they have always a notion that
somehow or other they shall be comfortable ; whereas
the working man sees it in the shape of more mouths
than bread. If the working men want political power,
let them show they have political sense. There is no
use in showing it when there is nothing to do • the
time is, when other people are looking for their help.
I believe the working classes say, the middle ones left
them in the lurch on the last occasion. If good men
avenge a desertion of that kind, is by doing the
thing over again for the defaulters in time of need.
We none of us must stand on what we have got by
it ; but the thing for honest men while they live, is
to do what good they can, for their neighbours and
the world.

I repeat, in order that there may be " no mistake,"
that if your West Riding working classes want
political power, now 1I the time to show that they
have heads upon their shoulders to deserve it.
I am, Sir, yours very sincerely,
AN OLD REFORMER.
Blackheath, 3 Marcb, 1852.