The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-03 00:00:00

or not, it is extending both here and in other
countries ; and we make these few remarks chiefly
to show that it is the necessary consequence of Re-
presentative Government, and that those who com-
plain of the restlessness of the people—and would
perhaps, still it, if possible, by no gentle means—
must be at once cautioned that it can only be de-
stroyed by shutting up the fountain of liberty.

We have recently had occasion to direct public
attention to the alteration in forwarding the corre-
spondence between London and Dublin, by the
establishment of a double line of packets from
Liverpool instead of Holyhead. We clearly pointed
out that the time fixed upon for dispatching the
mails from Dublin to England was ill chosen for
effecting the object in view—to give England the
full advantage of receiving the latest intelligence
from the interior of Ireland, by the morning mails
arriving in Dublin. At present both mails
leave Dublin within six hours of each other—in the
evening and at midnight ; whereas the mails from
Liverpool leave in evening and morning—twelve
hours apart—the one carrying the evening papers
and correspondence—the other the morning papers
and letters. This is business-like and straightforward.
But not so in Ireland : there, we suppose, every-
thing must be done after an Irish fashion to bother
the natives. One mail is started at half-past five
o'clock to tell the people of Liverpool that a second
packet is coming after it with the same news ! Was
ever any management so truly Irish as this ? Talk
of economy indeed I Two packets to perform the work
of one, and that badly. What is Mr. WALLACE
about, and what are the Irish Members about? Have
they no constituents—no Irish interests to stimulate
their concern ? As for the Post-office authorities
here, one may as well go to the man in the moon
for redress. And why ? Because the Post-office
people are sulky at having changes or improve-
ments forced upon them. The railways have so
turned their heads, that they hardly know the time
of day ; and the very idea of the penny poet is
frightening them out of their wits. Poor fellows !
they have lived so long on the reputation of having
been the best conducted department in the country,
that they have almost fallen asleep at their posts.
We readily admit that there are some clever gen-
tlemen among them, but the misfortune is, they
see all improvements, not of their own suggestion,
with a jaundiced eye and perverse spirit. Their
ingenuity is more alive in stating doubts than in fa-
cilitating alterations for the better. Experiment is
no favourite with them—it disturbs their old-
fashioned prejudices, and may affect the revenue,
for which they enter: ain a most Conservative re-
gard I The penny postage will be the ruin of
them both.

But our present purpose is with the Irish,
rather than the English, Post-office. In another
column, we insert a letter from thole very enter-
prizing news-agents, Messrs.JoHNsToN of Dublin,
complaining of the injustice practised, not only
towards them, but to the London Evening Jour-
nals and their subscribers in the interior of Ireland.
It appears that before the new Post-office arrange-
ments, the mails left Dublin for the interior at seven
o'cloCk in the evening, the Post-office being opfm.
for newspapers till six o'clock, and for half an hour
later on payment of a small fee. This was con-
sidered a fair accommodation to the public ;
but by the new plan this accomodation is
taken away ! And wherefore ? You may
ask questions of men in authority, but will they
answer ? They are deaf as a post to all inquiries
touching their official dignity. Although the mails
do not leave Dublin now until nine o'clock, yet the
receipt of newspapers is restricted to seven and
half-past seven, thereby depriving the public of an
hour and a half which they enjoyed before this Irish
improvement. Really the thing is so absurd, not to
say unjust, that we feel convinced there must be
some mistake, which only requires to be noticed to
ensure immediate correction. It is impossible it
can be persisted in.

Ihe trial for the Gold Dust Robbery is distin-
guished from most other criminal trials, by
its length. Rarely does one of these, even when
a question of life or death is at issue, last more than
one day. The greater number of them are de-
spatched in an hour or two, and many of them in a
few minutes. This trial has lasted eight days.
The reason why it has been so protracted is the
number of Counsel employed, and the ingenuity
they have displayed in examining and cross-exa-
mining witnesses. The great number of witnesses
is but a secondary circumstance, suggested proba-
bly by the ingenuity of Counsel, in the hope that
something might turn out, either on the examination
or cross-examination, favourable to their clients.
But the obvious source of all this multiplication of
witnesses and of Counsel, and of the length of the
trial is, that considerable property is concerned in
it. The parties arc comparatively opulent, and
can pay to have the trial protracted.
On account of this circumstance, we call atten-
tion to the case. We contended, three weeks ago,
in relation to the proceedings in Chancery, that as
long as the two armies of solicitors and barristers,
who make a profit on cases, are uncontrolled and
unchecked in their proceedings—as long as their
cupidity can stimulate their ingenuity to prolong
pleadings and delay causes—and as long as any-
thing can be gained by delay—so long will it be in
vain to increase the number of Judges and to mul-
tiply Courts, which would only increase the num-
ber of causes. We proved that, in fact,
causes had multiplied as conveniences were
created for trying them. Convinced of the ac-
curacy of that view, we ventured to suggest, as a more
effectual mode for obtaining justice for the people
than increasing the number of Courts, that the Judges
should be empowered to mulct heavily solicitors and
barristers who brought forward and supported im-
proper causes. Nor was that opinion altered by
observing that. the solicitors had held a meeting at
which they complained of the inefficiency of the
Court of Chancery, and petitioned for more power
to try causes. They took that course because when
decisions cannot be obtained at all, clients will not
come, and therefore a certain increase in the power
to try causes is necessary to keep alive the hopes of
suitors, and make them employ solicitors. When-
ever, therefore, much property is involved, as in
this case of the gold dust thieves, and as in all
Chancery cases, the interest of barristers and attor-
neys is so overwhelming, that it will effectually pre-
vent either justice or equity being speedily admi-
nistered.

In ordinary cases eight hours, instead of eight
days, would have sufficed to bring this investiga-
tion to a close. It was protracted by the ingenuity
of lawyers hired for that purpose. Of course in
all cases where there is property to hire them they
can pursue a similar course, and if the number of
Chancery Judges were to be augmented eight-fold,
there would speedily be nearly the same arrears as
at present. New means would be found out by the
solicitors and barristers to cause delay. More of each
branch by the profession would be engaged in each
cause ; longer and more speeches would be made ;
longer and mere affidavits would be produced, and
required, and consequently to multiply Judges in
Chancery, would be only to tax the public still
more, and still faster to enrich than at present soli-
citors and barristers. That was only a kind of
glimmering theory before the present trial, which
has given in its favour the verdict of experience.