The Sun.
London, England, 1838-07-28 00:00:00

in ',411:11+

WITH WHICH
THE " TRUE SUN" IS NOW
INCORPORATED.

LONDON :
SATURDAY EVENING. JULY 28, 1838.

• We have received a Quebec Gazette of June 23, and it
contains a proclamation of the Governor-General, ap-
pointing the following gentlemen to be the Special Council :
—Vice-Admiral Sir CHARLES PAGET, Major-General Sir
JAMES MACDONNEL, Lieutenant-Col. the Hon. CHARLES
GREY, the Hon. Col. GREGOR COUPER, and the Hon.
CHARLES BULLER. The Gazelle also contains an im-
portant proclamation, stating that WOLFRED NELSON,
R. S. M. BOUCHETTE, and several other persons, now in
Montreal gaol, have acknowledged their treasons, and sub-
mitted theinselves to the will and pleasure of her MAJESTY,
and also stating that Louts JOSEPH PAPINEAU and others
have absconded, and withdrawn themselves from the
pursuit of justice. It then sets forth that it is her MA-
JESTY'S pleasure that no further proceedings shall take
place against these parties, but directs that WOLFRED
NELSON and the others shall be transported to the Islands
of Bermuda, not to return on pain of death. The same
penalty is to be incurred by PAPINEAU and the others who
hare absconded, if found at large in Canada. This
ordinance does not extend to the murderers of Lieutenant
WEIR.
The Quebec Gazette of the 2.5 th, mentions in the
following terms another slight engagement on the fron-
tier :—" We are informed by a passenger who arrived last
night in the steamer Canada, from Niagara, that on
Thursday last news reached Niagara, that the rebels in
force near Chippewa made an attack on the militia ca-
valry, killing one man and taking ten prisoners. The
prisoners were deprived of their arms and clothing, and set
at liberty."
A report prevailed at Quebec that PAPINEAU was ex-
pected at Montreal.
The commutation of the punishment to which the parties
charged with treason would be liable puts at once an end
to all those hopes of vengeance, which we are afraid some
of the opposite faction have nourished, and is a wise step
towards ensuring the future peace of the colony.

The Royal Assent was last night given to the Nationa,
Loan Fund and Life Assurance Society's Bill. That ex-
cellent treasure is now the law of the land. It is no longer
incompetent for industrious artisans—for humble clerks—
for small farmers—and for men of limited income and pro-

vident habits, in classes ranked above these in the ordinary
scale of social being, to provide a fund which may secure
them against the possibility of destitution in old age.
Those facilities for the profitable accumulation
of surplus incomes, which the old established
Life Assurance Offices provided for the affluent, the Loan
Fund Institution extends, with important superadded ad-
vantages, to the industrious poor. In the establishment of
the old offices the very existence of the poor was not so
much as contemplated. No man was presumed capable of
appreciating the value of economy, but such as were rich
enough to dispense with it. Mr. LAMIE MURRAY, the
founder of the National Loan Fund Society, has taken a
widely different view of the means of best 'advanc-
ing the social and moral interests of the community.
His chief aim is to improve the condition of the middling
and working classes, convinced that what ameliorates the
ordinary evils of their position in life always tends in an
equal degree to the elevation of the national character,
and the purification of the public morals. There can be
no comparison between the utility of an institution which
enables a man worth ten thousand pounds a year to leave
two hundred thousand pounds as a legacy to some member
of his family at his death, and that of a Society which,
by fostering habits of economy among the poor—which
by inculcating the advantages of industry and sobriety—
which, by convincing the working classes that vices arc not
only evils in themselves, but the most fertile causes of
physical destitution—gradually places them above those
temptations to crime engendered by want, and in providing
for a period of life when age or infirmity incapacitates them
for labour, elevates them to the moral dignity of good men,
affectionate husbands, tender fathers, and honest citizens.
Economy in a poor man is the precursor of moral integrity
and self-respect, whereas in men of large fortune it most
frequently degenerates into the most sordid and unfeeling
avarice. Hitherto the tendency of all great mercantile
institutions has been to enable the man with money to
make more, at the expense of the man whose only capital
was his industry. The consequences are as obvious as they
are deplorable—enormous wealth on the one hand, and on
the other the most deplorable destitution. Here a pa-
lace—there a workhouse, or an asylum for lunatics, crazed
by the vices of repletion or the horrors of want :
wealth only honoured ; and the intervals of repose from
daily toil broken in upon and embittered by the prospect
of being sooner or later reduced to the alternative of starv-
ing, or relying for subsistence upon the humanity of a
Board of Guardians. .To change this deplorable prospect,
which now meets the eye of the poor man at every
step, into one of bright hopes and certain confidence
in the future, is one of the great ends proposed
to themselves by the Directors of the National Loan Fund
Society. But to succeed, the co-operation of the work-
ing classes themselves is the first great and essential re-
quisite. Nothing can be done unless they press forward,
and by means of their subscriptions, their confidence, and
their unanimity, enable the founders of the " Poor Man's
Bank" to realize their well-conceived plans for elevating
the moral and physical condition of all who are merely placed
above want by the precarious tenures of good health, and the
pleasure of an employer. To such of them as may be
unacquainted with the distinct objects of the Loan Fund
Society, we trust that the Clergy and Magistracy in their
respective neighbourhoods will consider it a duty to explain
to them in what way it will be competent for them to profit
by its establishment. In no other way can the spiritual
and civil guardians of the poor better consult the intt rest of
those committ©d to their religious and moral superin-
tendence. Provident habits among the working classes are
almost associated with every virtue that does honour to man
as a social and religious being.

The House of Commons regards party and personal mat-
ters as of almost infinite importance, compared to ques-
tions which concern only the good of the public. Last
night afforded an instance in illustration of this. The mo-
nopoly given to the Bank of Ireland has for some time
been complained of, as injurious to the public welfare. It
seems too that the Bank is paid for this monopoly. The
Government borrows 2,500,000/. of it at 4 per cent., which it
might get at 3, and thus makes the Bank of Ireland a present,
besides bestowing a monopoly on it, of 25,0001. a year.
It may be doubted whether the Bank could get 3 per cent.
on its capital were it employed in trade ; and if it could
not, the sum given to it by the State is above 25,000/. per
year. Such a matter concerns the public welfare. It
touches no personal honour—it involves no party interest ;
and therefore, though the House has been sitting eight
months, it could not be attended to, and the monopoly and
the public loss are to be continued. But the next year,
probably, some other party purpose will intervene. The
Tories may possibly then be in power, and the whole
time of Parliament will be necessarily occupied with pro-
jects to turn them out. At any cost of time they must
they be thwarted and opposed, because the principles
avow are despotic and pregnant with mischief. See, for
example, the Duke of WELLINGTON'S observations last
night on municipal government. His Grace is now for-1
getting the only defeat he ever sustained in the course of
his life, that on the question of Reform ; and forgetting his
masters, is returning to his old doctrines, of' which a com-
pendium is to be found in his declarations that the Bo-
roughmongering Parliament was a perfect contrivance, and
that county meetinp were farces. We see no reason why
more attention to the public welfare should be anticipated
next session than in the session which ought now to be
drawing to a close ; and no reason why at the end of the
month of July next year, the very same arguments may
not be assigned as now for continuing the mischief. The
questions connected with banking, and the free issue
of credit notes or' promises to pay, which are
altogether private matters, as much as the extent of any
merchants' acceptances, are very far from having been
either comprehended or investigated by Mr. RICE, how-
ever dogmatically he make talk on the subject, and by the
Members of the House of Commons ; and with such a
limited comprehension and such a great fund of ignorance,
precisely the same grounds will exist next year as now
exist, for continuing the monopoly of the Bank of Ireland,
and taking 25,0001. a year, at least, out of the public
pocket. Long life to monopolies, jobbing, and public
peculation 1
The Bill which the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
and Mr. POULETT THOMSON brought in last night, and
which was read a first time, is to amend the law relative
to legal proceedings by certain Joint Stock Banking Com-
panies against their own members, and by such members
against the Companies.

The discussion which took place last night in the Com-
mittee of Supply on the subject of an increase to the
grant of 10,0001. annually voted to the Polish Refugees
will be read with deep interest. It was opened by Lord
SANDON, who, when the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE-
QUER moved the usual sum, proposed, in a speech which
does him great honour, that the amount of the vote should
be augmented. The Noble Lord, in our opinion, most
satisfactorily answered the objections that have some-
times been made to any, even the smallest, addition to the
grant on the score of precedent, as it was not likely that
the unfortunate exiles from Poland would be lured to a
country in which they were more scantily provided for than
they were in any other in which they had found an
asylum. Ile stated the humiliating fact, that while Eng-
land has been allowing only 10,0001. per annum to the
support of the Polish exiles, France has been giving
100,0001., and sometimes 150,0001., for the same noble
purpose.

The Noble Lord was followed by many other Members
on both sides of the House, who all heartily concurred in
recommending, the forms of the House not admitting the
additional sum to be proposed as a distinct vote, to the
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER the adoption of the
suggestion. Among the observations addressed to the
Right Hon. Gentleman, those which fell from Mr. O'CON-
NELL and Sir ROBERT INGLIS are particularly conspicuous
for a fine display of good taste, and good sense, as well
as good feeling. It is delightful to see men, who
are so often engaged in political conflict, thus throw-
ing off, at the call of humanity, all party influences,
and uniting in the performance of the great practical duty
of doing to others as they would wish others to do to them
in similar circumstances. The appeal made to the CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, it is evident, though no formal
promise could be given, will not be made in vain.

The Irish Tithe Bill is now before the House of Lords ;
biAt unsaiijaotocy is it to uearly all partis, that fC'7
persons care what becomes of IL Their Lordshipi, con-

lasting."

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1838.

sistently with their practice of opposing every Reform I
demanded by the public voice, till concession loses its ,
natural effect, have opposed all rational plans for settling
this important question, till the people of Ireland have
become conscious of their power, and raised their de-
mands in proportion to their success. Landlords and
tenants are now united against the collection of tithes
in any shape for the support of those who are not
the clergy of the people, and by the time the Bill, if it
pass, comes into operation, there will be nearly as much
difficulty in collecting them in the shape of a rent charge
as under the odious appellation of tithes. How can it be
otherwise ? The Commons have granted a million to re-
lieve those who have hitherto resisted the law, and
Lord HowicK, described by Mr. O'CONNELL as
the fittest person for the first place in the Mi-
nistry, said with reference to this Bill "it is impossible
that the present state of affairs can be permanent." With this
premium for resistance, this announcement on the part of
the Government that the Tithe Bill will not work, and
with the distinct avowal by the Catholics, that it is
the principle and not the amount of tithes to which
they object, what hope is there of even a temporary ces-
sation of hostilities? The Catholics have advanced too far
to recede without carrying their point, and being placed
on a footing of perfect equality with the people of England
and Scotland. Nothing of the sort has been attempted
by this Bill. It marks out the Catholics, still as a de-
graded race, and deprives them, as much\ as law can, of
funds to which they consider themselves fully entitled.
There is but one opinion among them on this sub-
ject, and though their Clergy may for the present, and con-
trary to the practice in every other part of Christendom,
prefer the voluntary system, they will not cease to agitate
till the teachers of the people, whether in the character of
schoolmasters or priests, be paid for their labour. With
the exception of the High Church party—and they are
nearly silent on the subject—no one expects any good from
I it. It is merely a temporary expedient to put off the evil
day, and the Tories will find that it will have the effect of
all their half measures of reform, and learn, when too late,
that " nothing was so unwise (words used by Lord MEL-
BOURNE in describing the Municipal Bill), as when they
were trying to come to a settlement, not to make it on
such terms as were likely to be satisfactory, and therefore

The Irish Municipal Corporation Bill was read a third
time in the House of Lords last night, but not passed. The
last stage of the measure was postponed till Monday, in
order to afford an opportunity for considering a number of
clauses respecting Corporation Charities, proposed at the
eleventh hour by Lords REDESDALE and LYNDHURST.
We refer our readers to the admirable speech of Lord
BROUGHA3f, for a masterly view of the improvements intro-
duced into the Bill by the " alien" Lord.

We invite the attention of our readers to an important
Letter from Mr. O'CONNELL, on the present position of
Irish affairs, which appears in another part of our paper
We have neither time nor space for comment to day.

We continue to receive letters on the subject of the dis-
tress in the Shetland Isles, and the conduct of the Com-
mittee, which excites great, and in our opinion, well-merited
indignation. Proceedings, we understand, will be adopted
without delay for procuring a transfer of the unap-
propriated fund from the hands of the persons who
now hold it to those of others more disposed to
apply it to its proper destination. The Committee,
we are quite sure, can know but little of the reprobation
which their conduct meets with every where, or they
would at least endeavour to vindicate themselves publicly
from the heavy charges brought against them. We sup-
pose they find the task rather difficult, and therefore wisely
refrain from attempting it.
The Morning Advertiser makes the following very per-
tinent observations on the subject this day. We recom-
mend them to the attention of the Committee :

" Our readers will have perceived in yesterday's Aducrtiser, a letter
from the Rev. Mr. Barclay, the minister of Lerwick, respecting the de-
plorable state of destitution which prevails among the inhabitants of the
Shetland Islands It appears that the London Committee have deter.
mined to apply the remainder of the funds collected last year for the
relief of the Highlanders to the purposes of scriptural education. The
object of scriptural education is a most commendab!e one ; but it is a
most unwarrantable act on the part of the Londop Committee to appro-
priate to one object money collected for another. A greater breach of
faith with the public has never been committed ; and we can assure
those who have had the hardihocd to make such a misappropriation of
funds collected from the friends of the Highlanders, while these poor
unfortunate individuals are encountering all the horrors of starvation,
that they shall be called to accouilt for their conduct."

We have marked, and so we hope have our readers, with
no surprize, but with some apprehension for the ultimate
peace of society, the successive steps by which the Estab-
lished priesthood have of late essayed to set themselves
above the law. Through their organs of the press, and
through the pamphlets, their leaders and Universities
claim for themselves an unbroken succession of autho-
rity, deriving their power directly from Him who is
able to loose and to bind, and whose kingdom, lasting for
ever, is greater far than all the monarchies of the
earth. They style themselves, as witness the Bishop of
LONDON'S Coronation Sermon, the Ambassadors of
CHRIST, and being his Ambassadors, no other persons
are authorised to interpret his will. They claim, in
fact, to be the exclusive interpreters of the Divine
will—they interpret it as suits their purpose and
will aggrandize their power. A few months ago some of
them declared that the Rubric of the Church was GOD'S
law, of higher authority than Acts of Parliament ; and
that wherever the two clashei, they would obey the Rubric,
and set the law at defiance. Where they have not the
courage openly to resist it, they seek coverly to thwart and
oppose its operation. For example, the Clergy of Scar-
borough, being anxious to terrify the people from profiting
by the law for registering births, deaths, and marriages,
have sent forth a circular, of which this is a copy :