The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-17 00:00:00

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LONDON,
TUESDAY EVENING. JANUARY 17. 1837.

The speeches delivered at the Glasgow festival, if
they arc to be taken as specimens of the talent which
the Scotch Tories can bring into the field of political war-
fare, will not afford the party any great subject of exulta-
tion. They are, without exception, the poorest effu-
sio;is that the present excited state of party spirit has
called forth. They have nothing of the vigour and
freshness of extemporary composition; neither do they
exhibit the correctness of taste, the lucid order, nor the
argumentative acuteness which might have been ex-
pected, considering the opportunity for preparation en-
joyed by the speakers, had they• been possessed of any I
ability. Common-place dullness—bad taste and false
reasoning, unenlivened and unredeemed by any happi-
ness of illustration or brilliancy of language—may he
said to pervade the whole, from beginning to end. If
any of the select band of orators attempt to rise above
the dead flat along which his fellows proceed, he makes
himself supremely ridiculous—Sir D. SANDFORD,
for instance—by the puerile inflation of his style, com-
pared with the inanity of the ideas which it is intended
to clothe. Verily, Scotch Toryism does not show to
much advantage in this its boasted display of power.
The person whom we have named, whatever he may
think, will never be an orator if he should live to the
age of METHUSELAH. He is calculated for nothing
higher than to teach boys the Greek grammar. By
confining his exertions to that one department of scho-
lastic duty, he may be of some use ; but no man has
ever more completely proved the soundness of the adage
re sutor ultra crepidam. Let him then stick to his
longs and shorts. He may do as a pedagogue,
but never as a politican. He set out as an
ardent reformer—a radical of the first water—imposed
upon the credulity of the Glasgow Reformers, who
thought him as honest as themselves—was elected to
represent that city in the first Reform Parliament,
where he was to make a most conspicuous figure. He
was, in fact, to act the part of a Drazucansir in de-
fence of Radicalism. He took his scat, tried two or
three times to speak, and made such a fool of himself,
that he was obliged at last to feign ill health, as a pre
tence for resigning a seat which he was incompetent to
hold, without bringing discredit upon the constituency
which he represented. He always found that when
he had to answer an opponent on the spur of the mo-
ment, he could not find any thing to say—and that he
could never manage to get up a reply until the
night following. He was thus always behind hand,
and found his position so uncomfortable, after the
mighty expectations he had raised, that he was obliged,
as we have said, to cut and run. He contrived, how-
ever, to get himself knighted, which he accomplished by
being the bearer of a Reform Address to the KING.
Sir DANIEL has now betaken himself to the other
side to try his luck there. He seems to be as furious a
Tory as he was a Radical, and equally indiscreet.
What, for example, could be more injudicious—what
more extravagant, than to talk of the KING " giving
the royal standard to the winds ?" Does this simple
gentleman really think that a King of England will
ever make war upon the people? We do not deny
that a precedent may be found for such a proceeding ;
but we should scarcely imagine that the result of the ex-
periment would justify its repetition.

Mr. RIDGWAY has just published a Pamphlet en-
titled " What Next, or the Peers and the Third Time
of Asking ?" which well deserves an attentive perusal.
It is an able exposure of many of the fallacies recently
put forth by the Tory faction—more especially of that
notorious one, that the great mass of the community
is at this moment Conservative. The writer observes,
" no doubt a large majority of the modern Peerages,
of the minor gentry, of the clergy of the Established
Church, and of those families that have grown to
wealth and station under the form of bishops, judges,
governors, magistrates, contractors, pensioners, and si ne-
curists, during the extravagant wars and administrations
of the last half century, are Tory or Conservative. They
are a stirring, worldly, experienced race, that act together
with a compact zeal which augments their strength,
and exaggerates their numbers ; while, with a diffi-
dence peculiar to themselves, they arrogate an exclu;
sive wisdom and sanctity, which impose on the cretin.
Jous. These are their claims to a monopoly of the
rank, wealth, and intelligence of the country ; but a
very cursory analysis will expose the flimsiness of such
pretensions. For, even in the House of Lords, the
majority of the really great historic and territorial

Peers are liberal ; so also are the great landed gentry.
Nearly the entire manufacturing interest—full one-
fifth of the property of the whole country—is libe- •
ral, as well as nearly the whole of the Dissenting
persuasions, comprising a fair one-half of our popu-
lation. The learned professions—save and except the
theologians of Oxford and Cambridge—and the mer-
cantile class are, at least, equally divided, while the
vast body of the great trading community, which em-
bodies the substantial middle ranks of life, the sinews
of the State, are confessedly liberal." This is fairly
and dispassionately put, not by a partisan, but by an
observant, unbiassed politician. We dare even the
most sophistical Tory to deny the truth of the writer's
statement ; who, if any thing, rather overrates than
otherwise, the moral and numerical influence of the Con-
servative faction--a faction which, as experience daily
shows, is growing " small by degrees and beautifully
less." What has it been able to effect with the Re-
gistrations ? What with its Operative Societies ? What
with any one scheme or experiment it has projected,
for the last four years and upwards ? True, it sue•
ceeded in ousting the MELBOURNE Ministry ; but its
triumph was but momentary, and has been productive
of no other result, than that of showing the country
its utter weakness and inefficiency as a party.
On the subject of Peerage Reform, the writer
speaks out pertinently and unequivocally. He is of
opinion that no warnings—no signs of the times, will have
the slightest effect on their Lordships, and that, there-
fore, a reform of their institutions is inevitable, though it
may not be immediate. " Unless we are much deceived,"
says he, " the king and people, that is, the king's
government, and the people's representatives, will ere
long declare that Ireland must not, and shall not, re-
main as it is. That the holdings of its Church shall no
longer be daily loosened, and its Protestant clergy hal-
looed on to an unseemly contest for temporalities,
till there be none left to contend for; while the whole
country is kept quivering on the verge of separation
and revolt. If this be so, then it will be for the Lords
to decide whether their House shall remain as it is, or
• be reformed. For they must acquiesce in reconciling
Ireland, or upset the Ministers and take the Govern-
ment themselves. But they cannot take the Govern-
ment without the Commons, and the Commons they
cannot get. Therefore they must acquiesce, or be
reformed. Now, there is small hope that they will
acquiesce with a good grace ; and it has been shown that
a bare dissolution would fail to convince them; therefore,
' their reform, real or imminent, is the only remaining
expedient." So say we. The House of Lords must
be refoimed I Tis in vain to say that the country is
; not prepared for such a measure ; that popular opinion
is in prejudice of hereditary legislatio. Popular jute-
'. rests are opposed to it ; and here, in one word, is an
overwhelming argument in favour of its—not abolition,
perhaps—but most assuredly of its modification.

The Paris Journals of Sunday, which have been
received, bring a most interesting account of the com-
mencement of the debate on the Spanish question in
the Chamber of Deputies, on Saturday. When the
paragraph in the address which related to Spain was
read by the President, Count MOLE President of the
Council ascended the tribune to defend the policy of the
Government. The Chamber and public galleries were
crowded with spectators, eager to witness the contest be-
tween Count Mo LE and M.THIERS. The Premier com-
menced with citing CAsIMERPERIER's definition of the
true foreign policy of France, which he stated to be the
basis of his system. France had interfered in Belgium
to vindicate the cause of a revolution ; but France,
notwithstanding, was the first to set limits to liberty in
that country, and likewise to prevent the further inter-
ference of other foreign States. The quadruple treaty
entered into with Spain was concluded principally with
a view to preserve the peace of Eutope, the motive
being the expulsion of the Pretenders to the Crowns
of Portugal and Spain. That treaty did not bind
France to co-operate, as such co-operation could only.
be determined upon by the concurrence of the con-
tracting parties. Nevertheless France had done more
than she was bound to do, for she had established a
strong cordon of troops along her Spanish frontier, and
had prevented supplies being forwarded to Don CAR-
Los. The inexperience of the Spanish Constitutiona-
lists was of itself enough to deter France from all
interference, added to which France had enough to do
at home, Were she suddenly attacked, in what way
could she defend herself with one army engaged in
Africa and another in Spain ? In June, 1835, the
Queen of SPAIN demanded of France an armed in-
tervention. The then President of the Conncl
wrote instantly to the Cabinet of St. James's upon the
subject, and demanded answers to these three ques-
tions :-1. If the Cabinet of his Britannic MAJESTY
thought the then circumstances of the Peninsula war-
ranted an acquiescence in the demand of the Queen of
SPAIN ? 2. if England would co-operate in it ?
3. If she would consider the intervention of France
as a mats fcederis? England answered all these
questions in the negative. In March, 1836, Eng-
land considered that circumstances had arisen to justify
intervention, and announced the fact with the details
of a proposed occupation of Passages to General SE-
BASTIAN!, the French Ambassador in London. To
this proposition made by Lord PALMERSTON, M.
THIERS answered in the negative, and thus matters
went on till the establishment of the Constitution of
1812. Then was M. Boss LE COMTE instructed to
offer the QUEEN the assistance of a French Army—a
proceeding of which he then and now disapproved. He
would execute the Quadruple Treaty to the letter,
but not a jot beyond it. He would neither consent to
further co-operation or intervention, which would in
the end prove more injurious than advantageous to the
cause of her Most Catholic MAJESTY.

No marks of applause followed the delivery of this
harangue. The President of the Council retired from
the Tribune in silence, and the sitting was suspended
for twenty minutes.
M. TRIERS now presented himself to the chamber.
His occupation of the Tribune immediately after M.
MOLE excited great interest. He began by stating that the
policy of his Cabinet had been misrepresented and that
the quadruple treaty had been shamefully misinterpreted.
England with the bold and decisive policy for which she is
distinguished had recommended the treaty ; France had
adopted it because she could not remain neutral ; and
by that treaty France was bound to co-operate in the
restoration of peace to the Peninsula. The fourth ar-
ticle could only be understood as guaranteeing to
Spain any assistance she might require. He had
always so understood it, and he maintained that if it
meant not that, it meant nothing, and was no better
than a piece of blotted parchment. Not only did he
so interpre: the treaty, but all the Ministers that
had succeeded each other in Madrid had been of the
same opinion ; for they had all demanded intervention,
to which they considered it gave them a right. M.
MARTINEZ DE LA ROSA recommended that a French
army should he marched to the Ebro—a proceeding of
which the British Minister approved. MM. ToRE-
No, MPNDIZABAL, and IsT ußiz, all followed in the
track of MARTINEZ DE LA RosA. M. MOLE had
just told the Chamber that he (M. THIERS) had re-
fused to co-operate, when England demanded co-ope-
ration. This was not precisely the fact. In the Ca-
binet Council his opinions had been overruled, and
he merely acquiesced for a time in the decision come
to by his colleagues. When, however, CoRDOVA
had allowed the rebel GOMEZ to cross the Ebro, he
planned the forming of an army of 25,000 men, com-
posed of English, French, and Portuguese soldiers,
which, placed under the command of an experienced

French General, would easily put down the insurrec-
tion in Spain. This was the great object of his policy
—this too was his plan. It was below the dignity of
France to forsake an ally after guaranteeing to support
her. From the commencement of the struggle in the
Peninsula it was well understood that the assistance of
France would become necessary, and everybody desired
it. The Spanish Cabinet wished for it—the British
Cabinet wished for it—the French Ambassador wished
for;it—the French residents and merchants in the Penin-
sula wished for it—all wished for it but the Carlists and
the Spanish opposition. As for himself (M. TRIERS),
he hesitated not to declare that he was still for it—that
without it Spain could not be tranquillised. He was
for intervention in 1835. In 1836, he was still
more in favour of it—and now he advocated
the same measure. Before the revolution of
La Granja, co-operation was only prevented by a
Cabinet squabble about the choice of a General.
That revolution might have led to the most dreadful
results ; France could have prevented it ; and in not
doing so, she made herself answerable for the conse-
quences. France had volunteered promises of sup-
port ; but when called upon for their fulfilment, she
had meanly, and all but fatally, retracted them. For
himself, he had been sincere. When, as Minister of

the KING, he signed treaties, he conceived that he was
bound to insist upon their fulfilment. But he after-
wards discovered that Frdnce redeemed her pledges
by conniving with the Carlists, the consequence of
which discovery was that the Chamber beheld him
at the head of the Opposition. He was the only
man that fully appreciated the dangers of the
Spanish question, and he only trusted France would
not yet bitterly regret her retrograde policy. France
had shamefully deceived both England and Spain,
and both had unfortunately learned to distrust her
promises. This was a dreadful evil. But there was
yet room for some amendment of past policy. If it
was found too late to assist Spain by intervention, co-
operation would still save the country. He concluded
by calling upon the Government to tell the Chamber
what it was prepared to do, to redeem the character
of France.

The effect of this powerful and luminous appeal
upon the Chamber could not be ascertained, as the
sitting was closed in a few minutes after its delivery.
We will only here observe with respect to it, that it
removes a mountain of odium from the shoulders of
the ex-President of the Council. Could he now only
prove that he had as little to do with the laws against
the liberty of the Press as he has had against the
liberty of Switzerland, and we shall acquit him of all
blame, but that of remaining so long a member of the
Government.

We shall take another opportunity of calling parti-
cular attention to the policy of M. MOLE. He, ii
appears, stands now pledged to oppose the granting of
any aid to Spain, whether by way of co-operation
or intervention. As he is but the mouth-piece a
the KING, we now know officially in what direction
the wind blows in the very highest quarter.
There is no news of any moment in the Frencl
Journals of Sunday.

Advices from Madrid to the 9th inst. have been re-
ceived. They bring no intelligence of the slightest
general importance. On the 3d, Generals RIBEIRO
and N,A RVAEZ were at Burgos, where they were de-
tained by want of provisions. There is no news from
the North of Spain.

The Earl of Selkirk, who has been spending two
years in the United States and Canada', reached Liverpool
on Friday in the packet ship Oxford. Four steerage pas-
sengers died, during the passage, of the typhus fever.

We arc sorry to announce that Dr. Butler, the re-
cently created Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry is so un-
well as to cause the serious apprehensions of his family and
friends.—Northampton Herald.

Mr. Robert Cockrell, one of the most distinguished
British architects, and a member of the Royal Academy
of London, has just been appointed a corresponding mem-
ber of the French institute.

Mr. John Power, the step-son of the Hon. Mem-
ber for Tipperary County, has addressed the electors of
Dungarvon. It is said that in the event of his success he
will, at the next general election, resign his pretensions in
favour of Mr. Sheil, and contest the county of Tipperary.

Sir Charles Grey, one of his Majesty's Commis-
sioners for the Affairs of Canada, transacted business at the
Colonial Office on Saturday.

A messenger left town on Friday night for Ancona,
with despatches from the Foreign-office. _

CHURCH RATES AUCTION.—It appears by the
Leicestershire Mercury that the greatest excitement pre-
vailed in the borough of Leicester throughout the past
week, in consequence of the seizure of goods for church
rates. The attempt to dispose by auction of tl:c property
seized turned out a failure, and the demonstration of popu-
lar hatred to the nefarious impost was most decided.

Mr. Arbuthnot Winter and Captain Fitzpatrick
arrived in the Regent's Park on Saturday last, from a tour.
The Mayor of Cambridge has called a meeting of
the inhabitants to petition in favour of the Ballot.
There is a vacancy in the representation of the county
of Bucks, one of the three Members, J. B. Pracd, Esq.,
having just (lied.
A man was lately imprisoned at Vienna for imposing,
on the public, by showing what he called a female Esqui-
maux. This curiosity, on examination, turned out to be a
young girl whose skin he had stained with walnut juice,
and whom he had dressed in the clothes of the Esquituaux
who recently died in Belgium.
The Hon. Captain Frederick Grey has been ap-
pointed Private Secretary to his brother, Viscount Howick,
Secretary-at. War, in the room of Mr. John Walpole. The
Gallant Officer was for some time Private Secretary to
Lord Auckland, while his Lordship was First Lord of the
Admiralty. _ _ _

Admiral the Right Hon. Lord Amelius Beauclerk,
Commander-in-Chief at this port, on Thursday last, in con-
sequence of his promotion, hoisted his flag, white at the
main, instead of blue at the main, as before, under the usual
salute.—Devonport Telegraph.
In Glasgow the influenza is very general ; whole
families are affected by it : many shops are shut up, and an
inscription on the door intimates that in a few days business
will recommence.

Mr. Justice Bosanquet and Mr. Baron Gurney were
both unable to attend on Saturday their respective Courts,
owing to an attack of the prevalent complaint—the in-
fluenza. A number of barristers are also labouring un-
der the effects of the disorder.

A great deal of regret was on Saturday expressed
at Guildhall in consequence of the intelligence that the
house in which Ald. White of Bassishaw Ward is a partner
had stopped payment. It was stated that the Alderman
intended to resign his gown in consequence of the calamity.
The general opinion amongst the members of the Corpora-
tion is that an arrangement will take place as the balance
sheet is exceedingly favourable. Sheriff Duke's friends
have commenced a canvass for him in the most active

manner.
Mr. C. Green and the Vauxhall balloon arrived
in London from Paris yesterday morning.
Mr. Power, the Assistant Poor Law Commissioner,
paid a visit to Bolton on Friday last, to form a district to
carry into effect the provisions of the Act for the Registra-
tion of Births and Marriages. The expense, he stated to
the select vestry, would be divided according to the number
of poor from each township. In reply to a question, he
said it was intended to put the new poor law in force in the
district.—Bolton Chronicle.
Mr. Fletcher rode on horseback on Saturday week,
from Puddington, in this county, (his present residence), to
Northampton, 13 miles, and back again. The severity of
the weather that day will not soon be forgotten, and Mr.
Fletcher was ninety years of age in October last.---Cain-
bridge Press.
Major-General Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby,
who died rather suddenly on Thursday, was a valiant and
most distinguished officer ; served with great reputation in
the Peninsula, and at the battle of Waterloo, where lie
successfully charged the French at the head of the 11th
Hussars, on which occasion he was wounded by a grape-
shot, and lay apparently dead on the field of battle. While
in this situation, one of the enemy's lancers pierced him in
three parts of his body with his lance, cut off his epaulets
and galloped off, but the Major-General survived his wounds,
but felt the effects to the day of his death. His decease
will be a severe blow to his venerable father, the Earl of
Besborough, and will be sec erely felt by his friends and re-
lations. By his death, the Colonelcy of the Royal Dragoons
has become vacAnt.