The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-28 00:00:00

"TEN THOUSAND A YEAR."

The masterly Preface to the new and popular
edition of Ten Thousand a Year will be read with
peculiar interest by its not easily numerable ad-
mivers—in other words, by a very considerable
proportion of the reading population. By none,
however, will it be perused with more pleasure than
by those who may formerly have been disposed to
quarrel with the biting severity of its pungent
and acrid satire. By a few inimitable touches
Mr. Warren demolishes many enormous webs of
misapprehension.
The " Preface" is as follows :
"The author having now bestowed upon this work a
rigorous and final revision, hopes he may be allowed to
say a word to the reader, before it leaves his hand for
ever, to take its chance of appearing before posterity.
"Ten Thousand a Year is a fiction, the plot of whith
was contrived with great care for the purpose of at once
exerting and'sustaining, as far as possible, the reader's
interest, and exhibiting in a course of natural events,
and by the agency of natural characters, the aspect
socially, professionally, politically, and religiously of
English society in the nineteenth century. For this
reason the tale travels over a great space of ground,
and deals with almost every class of society. With-
out sharing the opinion attributed to Mr. Titmouse
(vol. i., p. 9), that the only real distinction between
mankind is that effected by money'—the author considers
it an enormous engine .for developing and testing the
character of man, individually and collectively. With
this view, having called up before his mind's eye a con-
siderable number of widely dissimilar characters, in
different positions in life, he described the sudden loss of
a splendid fortune by one, and its acquisition and sub-
sequent loss by another, with all their agitating and
vividly illustrating incidents ; his object being to teach,
by the form of action and events, important moral les-
sons. How this is brought about, and how far the at-
tempt may be deemed successful, must now be deter-
mined by a candid and competent reader. •
" Some parts of Ten Thousand a Year have been
written with a pen dipped freely and deeply into satire ;
but never with any other object than to discriminate be-
tween virtue and vice, between sincerity and hypocrisy.
Every institution has its defects, every order of men its
unworthy members ; and that writer deserves no serious
attention, and will produce no salutary effect on his
reader's mind, who confounds individuals with the class
to which they belong, and exhibits derogatory views of
a system or institution, instead of tracing out, as with a
caustic pencil, what are deemed the faulty parts.
"The author hopes that he will not be judged in too
harsh and exacting a spirit in respect of anything to be
found in this work, but that some licence may be allowed
to one whose aim is not;alone to instruct, but to amuse.
He has received, from time to time, a great number of
letters, one or two of them suggesting that he has sinned
in respect of some of the matters above referred to. A
Peer wrote to him to complain of his having intended
to ridicule the aristocracy by the character, sayings, and
doings attributed to the Earl of Dredlington and Lady
Cecilia ; and some months afterwards he received an
extremely violent letter from a linendraper, accusing
him of an intention to render that respectable calling
odious. To charges such as these he is not concerned
to give an answer. As reasonably might members of
either House of Parliament, or of either branch of
the , legal profession, deem themselves wronged
and misrepresented, because certain unworthy and con-
temptible individuals belonging to them are placed in
unfavourable contrast to those constituting the great
body of worthy and honourable members of these classes.
The Author lately, however, received an earnest and
courteous remonstrance from an eminent Dissenting
minister against the alleged tendency of Ten Thousand
a Year, to exhibit disparaging views of Dissenters gene-
rally. The Author solemnly disclaims having ever been
actuated by such unjust, and unchristian feelings and
intentions. He knows much and great to the honour
of the Dissenters; and would consider himself acting
unworthily as a member of the Church of England, if
he presumed to speak, or leave on'record, a single disre-
spectful word concerning any denomination whatever
of professing Christians, If ' the Reverend Dismal
Horror,' and the .Reverend Smirk Mudflint,'
typify bad specimens of Dissenting ministers, surely the
Reverend Morphine Velvet,' and the Reverend Gideon
Fleshpot,' are by no means desirable representatives of
the Church of England clergy.
"Amongst many letters of a different character, the
Author received one, a few years ago, from a town in
the state of Kentucky, U.S., of which the following,
with the suppression of several enthusiastic expressions,
is an exact copy. The letter is subscribed with the
writer's name, and found its way, addressed simply
To the Author of Ten Thousand a Year, London, Eng
land.' He lately discovered the writer to be a gentle-
man now occupying a high position in American society,
and who recently tilled an important and responsible
office in the State:—

" Kentucky,
" Sir,—Permit an humble individual, and a stranger,
to express to you the gratification and delight your in-
structive work -Ten Thousand a Year has afforded
him. Instructive it was ; for, at the time I
had the pleasure of perusing it, misfortune had
laid her heavy hand upon me, and sometimes when
those who instead of aiding rather assisted in oppressing
me, my heart would fail me ; but when I thought of
Charles Aubrey, as portrayed by you, who, though
born to affluence, and reared in luxury, how he bore his
misfortunes, I felt ashamed that I, but a mechanic, one
of the toiling millions to whom God had given health
and strength, should so far forget his goodness as to
despair ; so I put my shoulder to the wheel right man-
fully, and turned neither to the right nor ,to the left,
and with a firm reliance.on His providence, determined
to extricate myself from the pecuniary embarrassments
I was surrounded with, and have succeeded.
" 'As to glorious Kate, I cannot tell you how I appre-
ciate her character, more than by saying that I hope
sincerely the little stranger born to me some few nights
ago, whom I have taken the liberty of naming Kate
Aubrey, will take her namesake as a pattern of excel-
lence, and follow it.

" You will please accept these few lines in the spirit
they are sent, from one who may never see your face,
and has no motive in addressing you but the pleasure of
paying homage, not to kings, or to high birth, but where
it is due. Believe me, sir, I wish you happiness and
prosperity,

" If the writer of this letter should see these pages,
he is assured that the author of this work has been per-
haps more gratified by the foregoing communication,
than by any that have hitherto reached him with refer-
ence to Ten Thousand a Year.
Inner Temple, London, April, 1854."

ARRIVAL OF GOLD.—Three vessels have arrived with
gold from Australia, bringing together 26,818 ounces,
valued at 107,2001. The principal amount is 25,000
ounces by the Windermere, from Geelong, the Lord of
the Isles having only 1,052, and the Marquis of Bute
766 ounces. Two other vessels are reported—viz., the
Antipodes, from Van Diemen's Land, and the Royal
Stuart, from Sydney, but their quantity LAS as yet to
Ire ascertained,

.'^:"
~-s.:.

THE SUN,
.L ON DO N_ WED,NE*D-kT EV_E-14

rity of neighbouring and allied States. The Emperor is too
wise not to desire, even in the midst of conquest and success,
to maintain inviolate that system established for the general
tranquillity of Europe in which his Imperial Majesty's august
predecessor took so prominent and so honourable a part. It
is, therefore, with sincere satisfaction that his Majesty's Go-
vernment have learnt from the declaration made by Count
Nesselrode to your Ex,•ellency, for the purpose of being trans,
mitted tUyour GOvernment, ' that it was in contemplation
not only to diminish the amount of the sum stipulated, but
also to make a' different arrangement with respect to its rue:
rantee.'_ It is by such, conduct that his Imperial Majesty
will really manifest his generosity, and his regard, for those
principles of just and enlarged •policy by which alone can be
secured the confidence of his allies and the respect of Europe.
‘! Even if the Emperor was not thus to yield at once to
the impulse of his own disposition, the same determination
would still be recommended by considerations of prudence,
as beine• essential to the success of objects which he has pro-
fessed to have much at heart. His Imperial Majesty has
declared that a regard for the true interests of Russia induced
him to feel more desirous than any other European Power of
maintaining the independent existence and integrity of the
Ottoman empire. He has also repeatedly avowed that the
condition of the Christian subjects of the Porte demanded his
constant solicitude, and the obligations both of his own con-
science• and of 'public treaties imposed upon him the special
duty of consulting' heir welfare and providing fer'their pro-
tection.- These• objects, at all times difficult to reconcile,
would, under the strict execution of the treaty; become alto-
gether incompatible with each other. The real situation of
the TurkisirPower is too obvious to escape the most common
observation. The Sultan is surrounded by independent States
formed out of his own territories, and with the great mass of
the Europern population • of his empire anxiously waiting for
the moment when they may profit by this example, and shake
off his dominion a'together. Defeated and reduced to the
lowest degree of humiliation, he has retained his throne and
political existence by the mercy of his conqueror. The dis-
affection ofhis Mahomedan subjects of all ranks, whether
produced by repeated disgrace or the effect of a gradual
change long since in operation, has become general. - In this
condition, with a broken authority and exhausted resources,
he is called upon to provide for the indemnity which is
exacted from him. In what manner is the Sultan to relieve
hiinself from this burden, and by whom must the sacrifices
principally be made? If the Turkish Governm,ent bo still
permitted to act at all as an independent Power, it is 'clear
that the necessary sums must be raised by fresh impositions
upon the people, and by such means as are authorised by
the law awl- customs of the empire. It is equally certain
that the Christian subjects of the Porte must largely contri-
bute to furnish these supplies. Compliance with the demands
of the Government will be difficult, but the urgency of the
case will justify severity. Resistance may be attempted ; if
successful, leading to general confusion and revolt • if other-
wise, spoliation and oppression will follow. At all events,
new scenes of calamity will be opened calculated to frustrate
the admitted objects of his Imperial Majesty, and fatally de--.
structive both to the independence of the Porte and to the
happiness and prosperity of the Christian subjects of the
empire '

"There aro other considerations which ought to have their
due weight in themind of his Imperial MaPsty.
" It cannot be doubted that the result of the war has been
such as to change entirely the relative position of. the belli- •
gerents towards each other, as well as towards the neighbour-
ing states .and the rest of Europe. This change, it may be
admitted, is to a-certain extent the natural consequence of an
uneqUal contest ; for at the termination of hostilities, charac-
terised on one side by the most signal success, and ,on' the
other by continued disaster, it would be unreasonable to sup-
pose that the parties could in every respect resume their former
relations. 'lt is, therefore, not exeluiv.ely to the conditions of
the peace, but also to the events of the war, that we are to
ascribe the change which has taken place. In whatever man-
ner it may have been accomplished, the fact is sufficient to
justify some anxiety on the part of these rowers 'who have
always felt a deep interest in the preservation of the system
of the European balance established by the treaty of Paris
and at the Congress of Vienna. This anxiety must be greatly
increased when, in addition to the unavoidable weakness and
prostration of the Turkish Power, it -is found that fresh causes
are brought into action. which are obviously calculated to
hasten and insure its utter dissolution.
,The evils attending
upon uncertainty; expectation, and alarm must be universally
felt throughout Europe. Encouragement will be afforded to
projects the most adverse to the general tranquillity; and the
different Powers; so far from disarming, will probably augnient
their warlike preparations, already too extensive for a state

of peace.
" It is only by a frank and cordial desire on the part of his'
Imperial Majesty to remove all reasonable grounds of suspicion
and apprehension— it is only by a sincere endeavour in con-
junction with his allies to confirm and perpetuate the repose
which has hitherto been enjoyed, and by making this the main
object of European policy, that we shall be enabled to avert
the threatened.dangers. In this salutary work his Imperial
Majesty will assuredly call to mind the example of his illus-
trious predecessor; and he will recollect that, whatever may
have been the glories of his reign, the last ten years of his life,
devoted exclusively to the preservation of peace, eminently
entitled him to the gratitude of Europe.
" I am to instruct your Excellency to I,•ead.this despatch to
Count Nesselrode, and, if desired, to give his Excellency a
copy. The sentiments of his Majesty are exiires., ed without
reserve, but with cordial and friendly feelings. They are ex-

pressed, too, without previous concert or communication with
any other Power whatsoever.—l am, Sze.,

" ABERDEEN."

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.

The West-end and Crystal Palace Railway Company's Bill,
for extending that railway from the Crystal Palace to Brom-
ley and Farnborough, pass. d the committee of the House of
Comnions, Lord Harry Vane, chairman, on Monday, the
19th instant.

We report verbatim the discussion in the House of Com-
mous on the withdrawal of the South• Eastern Company's
Bill for the construction of a branch of six miles from Lewis-
ham to Bromley, which had previously been passed by thq
same committee, and which stood for third reading, and on
the recommittal of the bill which has now passed, and of
the Sydenham and Farnborough Bill, both of whici had been
thrown out.