The Sun.
London, England, 1836-07-26 00:00:00

MR. BUCKINGHAM.

For some time past an effort has been making in various
towns of the kingdom to remedy, by a private subscription,
the injury sustained by Mr. Buckingham from the refusal
of the House of Commons to do him public justice for what
every impartial man out of the House must look upon as
a great public public wrong. It is notorious that Mr. Buc-
kingham was driven out of India, and his property there
(estimated at 40,0001.) plundered, under colour of law, in-
deed, but for no other offence besides his having taken the
liberty of censuring, in very moderate terms, a gross and
profligate job, which his prosecutors themselves were soon
after compelled, for very shame, to cancel. Buckingham
was banished and robbed, merely because he found fault with
the appointment of a Scotch Tory parson, to a civil sinecure
office. Since he came home he has been constantly and
ably employed in contending against the monopolists under
whom he had suffered ; and it is not saying too much
that to his agitation of the question we owe in a great de-
gree the opening of the China trade and those great and
palpable advantages that have resulted from it. That we
now drink good congou at four shillings and sixpence in-
stead of six shillings and sixpence is due to the labours of
the member for Sheffield. In Birmingham about one
hundred and forty pounds have been subscribed—this is a
fair beginning. The names of Mr. Sturge and his family,
as usual in all cases where public principle is at stake, stand
conspicuous on the Est.—Birmingham Journal.
That ,to Mr. Buckingham chiefly we are indebted for
the overthrow of the giant monopoly of the East India Com-
pany is a sufficient reason why that lately oppressive power
refuses to rectify the injustice and political errors perpetrated
by its own servants, and why they withhold that remunera-
tion to Buckingham which justice claims at their hands. It
is moreover an argument why the merchants and traders of
this great commercial empire should be forward to promote
the annuity fund subscription now making to compensate, if
that be possible, by their private exertions, losses acquired
in the service of the public. In this way only is it that we
can expect to keep alive in the breasts of Englishmen that
pnre spirit of patriotism which will sustain a man in the dis-
charge of a public duty under the most grievous oppressions
for advocating a just cause. Let the friends of Free Trade
rally, though late, to show their admiration of Mr. Buck-
ingham's conduct, and their own contiuued appro-
bation of those principles which led to the opening
of India and China to British merchants. The
forbidden land has been taken possession of—the hostile
garrison has been carried—the trophy of victory floats on
its walls—and shall it ever be said that the gallant leader
was suffered to pine neglected without its gates-? A
general officer who has led on and carried the attack has a
right to his share of the spoils of conquest. We under-
stand that Mr. Skidmore, the agent appointed to receive
subscriptions, in connection with the committee formed in
London, is now here from Sheffield soliciting subscriptions.
for the purpose referred to. Sincerely do we hope, for We
honour of this town, that, as on all other great occasions., it
will rank first in the praiseworthy undertaking. We see
already on the list the patriotic names of Potter, Philips,
Hadfield, Harbottle, Baxter, Heywood and others ; and
as the country owes a large debt to Mr. Buckingb atn, we
think it but right that the opulent merchants of this town,
the princes of the earth, should be among the fast to re-
deem the national honour.—Manchester Times.