The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-23 00:00:00

THE SIIN,

Lions we would invite the attention of our readers, as
eminently worthy of perusal. When the society has
been formed, and the necessary funds obtained, it is
proposed—
" That the Corporation enter into agreeMent with the
Crown and with landed proprietors, for the purchase, cr
right of pre-emption, of lands in suitable districts of
Ireland ; and expend the necessary sums in adapting
such estates to productive agricultural enterprise, by
effectual arterial and thorough drainage, and by open.
ing, deepening, and clearing rivers and outlets, where
necessary, for the free discharge of water at all seasons;
in building convenient farm-houses and cottages ; in
laying out settlements, and dividing the same into such
allotments as may be found expedient for the purpose of
sale and disposal. The purchase money of such estates as
may be considered desirable to be paid in money or in a
stock to be created by the Corporation, at the option of
that body.
" The lands so improved, adapted, and divided. to be
sold with a reasonable profit to persons of the requisite
capital to cultivate the same, or otherwise conveyed in
fee simple, or mortgage, to yeomen of good character,
subject to a terminable rent charge on the following
principle, or on such terms as may be agreed on :
" The association to grant to yeomen farmers of good
character the fee simple of a farm or allotment of land
adapted for the purpose of husbandry or settlement,
subject to an annual rent charge, to be paid during the
life of the grantee. This rent charge to represent
the annual payment, which, on the ordinary system
of tenure, he would pay to the landlord for the use
of the soil, together with such premium as would be
necessary to enable the Corporation to re-assure the
value of the property, and so replace the amount of
their investment on the decease of the occupier. For
example, a person aged 30 desires to possess and to
secure to his children the absolute freehold of a farm,
valued at 1001. A conveyance would be made to him o
' the said farm, subject to
The rent charge of
And the annual premium for insuring
2 10 0

£5 0 0

Total rent charge payable during the
life of the grantee
. _ . _ _

... £7 10 0

" The farmer would thus virtually own during his
life the freehold of the land, and on his decease it
would become the unburthened patrimony of his chil-
dren, representatives, or devisees. The value of the
fee simple would be restored to the association by virtue
of the annual premium ; the property, during the life
time of the occupier, remaining mortgaged to the asso-
ciation, as security for the rent and premium, and fdr
the due observance of all necessary
covenants ; an un-
exceptionable security, inasmuch as the quasi tenant,
along with a legitienate degree of independence, has all
the motives and-interest of a landowner to improve the
property under his care."
We have no hesitation in saying that the plan thus
briefly developed appears to be perfectly feasible—
that if carried into execution it would afford ample
profits to the shareholders, and would materially ele-
vate the social condition of the sister kingdom, and
lead to the full development of her industrial resources.
We trust that it may receive the general support
to which it appears so well entitled. It should not
be forgotten that the national welfare and prosperity
of England is intimately connected with that of Ire-
land. The members of the association, in achieving
the regeneration of that unhappy land, will not
merely have acted with philanthropy and benevolence,
and in a manner worthy of Christian men, but they win
have consulted their own best interests, and followed
the course dictated by mere worldly wisdom, as well
as by the higher motives above indicated.

In the author of " Hochelaga's " interesting new
work " The Conquest of Canada," there is an intro-
ductory chapter which is worthy of consideration at
the present moment, when constitutional questions
are so generally agitated. In comparing the American
colonies of England and France, this writer observes
—" New France was colonized by a Government,
New England by a People." In tracing out the
consequences of these opposing characteristics we see
the baleful effects of a system where " the state is
everything" contrasted with the inherent vitality of
a democracy. Let us contemplate the one picture
and the other. " France founded a state in Canada,
she established a feudal and ecclesiastical framework
for the young nation, and into that Procrustean bed
the growth of population and the proportions of
society were forced." The state did what she
deemed best for her own welfare and the
welfare of the colony ; but hers was a mis-
taken kindness—" her energy absorbed all individual
energy ; her perpetual and minute interference
aspired to shape and direct all will and motive of her
subjects." What was the consequence ? " When
the power of the state was broken by a foreign foe,
there remained no power of the people to supply its
place. On the day that the French armies ceased to
resist, Canada was a peaceful province of British
America." Such was the result of so much careful
state tutelage ; contrasted with this we read how a
handful of Puritan refugees founded a people in New
England :—" Far from seeking or accepting aid from
the Government of England, they patiently tolerated
their nominal dependence only because they were
virtually independent." Such were the colonists of
New England, and very similar were the rest of the
British colonists. And what has been the conse-
quence of this self-supporting system ? These hardy
adventurers bequeathed to their offspring life. No
gradual decay could render their labours fruitless ;
no foreign enemy could overthrow their self-sustain-
ing system—
' The same free spirit, which was theirs, in those plan-
tations stayed,
And the young and strong Republic was by these in
virtue bred,
She was cradled in adventure, she was nurs ed in good
men's dread,
The young and strong Republic that has filled the world
with fame,
And with great praise and marvel of the Anglo-Saxon
name.''
Such are the opposing consequences of these opposing
systems ; in the work above referred to they are most
ably and succinctly set forth. Similar results have,
however, been already recognised as springing from
similar causes in the old world. Ale,olute monarchies
have crumbled away, and will Grumble away by an
irresistible law, because they cherish within them the
seeds of corruption. Where is the dynasty of
him who proudly and presumptuously exclaimed,
" L'etat c'est moi 1" (I am the state !)
Where is that state, strengthened with so much care
and girt about with so much glory ? What record
remains of the grand monarq:x's grandeur now ? It
is quite unnecessary to cite further examples; some
years hence, perhaps, other 23 startling names may be
added to the catalogue, when the people of the north
shall have felt their power and recognised their rights,
and the gigantic empire of " the realms of frost" shall
have melted away, as it assuredly will do. LA us
content ourselves for the present with drawing
prac-
tical advantages from the consideration of these great
facts. It cannot be said that in this country we have
a state and not a people. Nevertheless, there is no
lack of opportunity for the co-operation of state and
people in accelerating reform and removing abuses, so
as to give us in reality all those boons of which we
boast—those democratic institutions and popular
privileges which (in accordance with the above
theory) shall ensure our prosperity and existence as a
nation.

OUTRAGE ON THE BRITISH FLAG AND
REPARATION BY THE AUSTRIANS.

On Thursday last, the 16th -instant, the following
event took place at Leghorn, and was likely to
become a source of serious misunderstanding between
the chief of the British squadron there and thi
Austrians. The boats of her Majesty's ship Bellero-
phon, 78 guns, commanded by Captain Baynes, GB ,
were exercising, when the launch and pinnace were
dispatched for a supply of water. They had just got
inside the Mole, when it was perceived by the officer
on guard that they had their guns mounted, where-
upon they were immediately surrounded and seized,
and the officers and crew were kept prisoners for
upwards of t wr. hours. The officer in command,
after some difficulty, succeeded in making the
commandant acquainted with the facts of the case,
when they were released, but in a very ungracious
manner.
It was not likely, however, that this outrage wag to
remain unatoned, tor Captain Baynes, with his cha-
racteristic determination and devetion to the honour
of the British flag, dispatched an officer to Baron
Wimpfen, the commander- in•chief of the Austrian
army, at present stationed at Florence, demanding
instant and full reparation and apology, and in the
meantime made every preparation to enforce his de-
mands. The result, however, of Captain Baynes's
able, prompt and energetic behaviour was, that the
gallant Austrian commar.der at once saw he impro-
prdolspiephtayetecob,feehdeiseoenseutabbionergdl7ientvabeterfry'sothin iconduct, and an officer was
nko.lothreantcce
atpotatilnaeßßayelnlees-
had desired, and with
into the
an order for the boats of the
Bellerophon to
come Mole, manned and
armed, and there to be received by
same the t guardim eowf with
Y
arms presented, and band pla •
Queen," a salute being fired at the playing
"God save the
guns in honour of the British flag.

Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office trom the Governors of the West India Colonies.