The Sun.
London, England, 1831-02-04 00:00:00

fIPIIIIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The proceedings in both Houses of Parliament. last
night were brief, but the notices of what a little further
time is, to produce, already indicate a Session of more than
ordinary importance. The first notice given was by the
Lard Chancellor : it related to a Bill whose title announces
ioe importance—viz., " A Bill for amending the Ad-
ministration of Justice in the Court of Chancery.
and for the i etter Administration of the Estate,:
and Effects of Bankrupts." With the provisions
of the Bill we are not acquainted, but never was ans
measure more loudly, or more unremittingly, called for
than one for regulating the Court of Chancery. We hope
the present will prove satisfactory. It is singular that
though not a very large portion of the vast population of
the British empire can have been affected by the proceed-
ings of that Court, yet has the sense of their oppressive
stature been so strong that Reform and amelioration have
been called for as universally as if the comforts of every
man's home had been destroyed by a Chancery suit. The
very liability under which every man laboured ceeeted ter-
ror, as much as in other cases the positive autering on in-
fliction. 'Retrenchment, we hopeoseeemnd, indeed, we have
no doubte—will be the principle of Reform in this Court.
On presenting some petitions in favour of Reform to ties
Rouse of norsls, Earl - Grey took occasion to antaounce
.distintely, that whatever difficulties might be 'presumed to
attach themselves to the preparations br any general
upon that subject, his Majesty's Ministers had, with tee
osmardinous assent and concurrence of the whole Govern-
Atent, framed a measure which, he trusted, would give tol-.
tisfaction to the tonntry, without passing the botmas of
" a well-alvieed moderation," and which Would be sub-
mitted to the other House of Parliament with the least
pe,eole el: ley. This formal declaration of the eel nest and
+decided manner with whicii Ministers have alseady acted
on their original pledges to their Sovereign and to the
people, was received by their Lordships with !stalled and
deep attention. *A similar opportunity Was laid hold mo
by Lord Melbourne, viz, that of it petition presented*
by Lord Darnley, to state to the Home the general
4,biects of the remedial policy to he adopted towards
Ireland in the course of the current Session. The abuses
of the Grand Jury Assessments are to he completely obs
'tinted. The Vestry Act (pregnant with oppression and
ill blood) is to be repealed, and a n w Bill substituted bn
more just and impartial principles. Those clateses of the
Seib-letting, Act, out of which have srisen eriany:erievous
and afflicting circumstances to the poorer occupants of
land in Ireland, are either to be altogether repealed, or
ens tented, by new provisions, of any further power to
work mischief, while the protective principles of the law
will be left in full operation. A law avid be brought in
for affording a liberal and profitable support to the desti-
tute poor, by finding them employment on works of ac-
knowledged public utility, the expense of which, com-
prehending the wages of the labourers, is to be &flayed
by taxes levied on the proprietors of neighbouring estates.
If not a poor-law, this is something very like it, with
the difference, that the measure now suggested pro-
poses to remunerate the industrious, instead of fostering
the idle, and by rendering communications easier, and
the country more productive, to extent) its rapacity of
beating a further increase of inhabitants. It has been
told us that a plan of this precise character had been pre-
pared by a County Member of experience and ability, the
late Vice-Treasurer of Ireland, whose knowledee of the
country, and' personal interest in its welfare afro: tied him
rectniar facilities for the task. If, as is possible, the policy
to be pursued by Ministers in this respect has far its
ground-work the propositions which we have heard attri-
buted to that Right Hon. Gentleman, it appears to us that
their adoption cannot fail to produce great practical benefit.
Still something remains unaccomplished with regard to
Irish wants. A favourite measure with us has always
been the establishment by law of a comfortable provision
for the Catholic Bishops and clergy. The dissenting clergy
throughout Ireland were once upon a time (with all defe-
rence be it spoken) a factious and turbulent set of men.
Since Government, some thirty years ago, gave them an
annual provision (a very small one moreover), the clergy of
the Established Church itself have net exceeded them in
peacealmle and loyal conduct; while, we understand, it is
admitted on all hands that the influence and consideration
which they enjoy with their flocks have in no degree di-
minished. It might have appeared ungracious at the pe-
riod when the Relief Bill was carried, to dwell much upon
the specific imperf ctions of a measure, which, never-
tireless, realized so much of positive good. But no man
conversant with Ireland could hive regarded the absence
of all conciliatory or politic regulation for the pri-sthood,
otherwise than as a defect, and one of a serious nature in
the Bill, although it would be unfair to deny that any
attempt at the moment to make the measure more com-
prehensive by inserting such a clause, might have com-
promised, if not wholly defeated it. What, however. has
been the consequence of overlooking the Catholic Clergy
of Ireland? It is, that they have been left at the mercy
of O'Connell and his gang,—that they are absolutely
dependent on the mob—or, in other words, on those
who lead the mob—for support, and that if they resist
the efforts of the agit dors to excite the people, or even
forbear to lend them their support, they may lose their
only means of existence. Hence, heisg outcasts from
the state, they are bid for successfully by those whose aim
is to disturb it. Hence it is that they listen to the overtures
and whisperings of a bad ambition. Hence, if not many
have the will, yet fewer have the boldness to face ally
project, however wild or scandalous, for tivetting the foul
yoke of the disaffected leaders upon the necks of the poor.
ry few of the Cal o:lie Bishops had nerve enough to
refuse their places of worship as custom-houses for the
collection of the O'Connell tribute, and those who did
will suffer for it severely, we donor, if they be not secured
by Parliament. It is to he lopsd that the session will
not pass away without some step of this kind being taken
wito the countenance of his Majesty's Governacent. The
proceeding adopted by Lend Althomp in the Henae of Com-
mons corresponded with that of Lord Grey ; tot his
Lordship stated the intentions of Government with some-
what greater fullness. He said that his noble friend, Lord
John Russell, Paymaste r of the Forces, was authorized by
the unonimous approbation of his Majesty's Ministers, to
bring forward the messere of Reform on the Ist of March.
The Government had selected the noble Lord for
that task, in consequnce of the ability and per-
severance which he had displayed in time curse of Re-
form in the days when it was unpopular. His Noble
Friend had roe osed various partial measures of Reform
when even partial measures woo looked upon with disfa
your. Now, therefore, when tie cause was prosperous,
the Government thought that, on accenat of his persever-
ance and ability, the Ne bfe Lord should be the person se-
lected to bring forward a measure of full amal efficient Re-
form, instead of the partial measures which he had hitherto
proposed." These, we anticipate, will be glad felines for
the country—" a measure of full and efficient Reform ;"
rod this front the lips of a plain-spoken, honest man, like
lord Althorp. It is, see Nay, a most satisfactory declara-
tion. The Civil List comes on in the House of Commons
this day. Undoubtedly the Government has not been
but there are persons (Lord Wicklow) in the House
Lords who deem it decent to taunt then with their
activity : some people are hard to be pleased ! Times.
The great question of Polish independence approaches
a decision. The Emperor hash issued, on- the 17th of
December, a proclamation, calling upon the Poles to de.
sent their rebellious standards,' and to submit to his will,
tan a promise that only the leaders of the insurrection
should be visited with the ii;ours of his justice. The
Poles, through their Provisi,,nal Government, replied to
this summons by a manifesto, showing the extent of tl.eir
grievances, and justifying their resolutions of resistance.
The parties thus joined issue on the matter in dispute, and
appealed to the sword for its award. In the mean time,
preparations for the contest were continued on both sides
with vigour. The Emperor placed his invading army
u uler the command of the conqueror of Turkey, and the
Poles relied upon their Dictator Ch!opielei, who has just
resigned. This last sign of vacillation on the part of the
Poles may have induced General Diebitsch to begin ope-
rations sooner than was at first intended, and he has ac-
cordingly issued two proclamations, one addressed to the
Poles, and another to the Polish army, which almost appear
trarocripts of that which he addressed to the Bulgarians
an passing the Balkan. The General has been taught in
a good school lie has learnt to mix the cant of clemency
and magnanimity with menaces of vengeance and exter-
mination. These who dared to think of restoring the
rights of their country are called criminal agitators, rebels,
end traitors, who are to suffer the penalty of treason :
those who have joined them are called their accomplices in
a lamentable crime, or unfortunate persons who may be
c ou
sn üb-
ry
t pardoned by invoking the Imperialclemeney. Tli
is to he protected against military pillage if it quietly
wits. and the Poles will only have to pay for teeir own
re-conquest by a confiscation of their treasury, on which
they are to receive securities for what is taken from them
as individuals. The inhabitants of towns and villages
are required to lay down their arms on the approach of
the enemy agiinst whom they had taken them up, and
who use theta in sell-defence are to he shot, by the
tios
s-ntenceie of a court-martial, if they escape the dangers of
the field. All independent authority is to be overthrown.
flog
of Poles must beg for clemency under the white
nf truce, and the owners of lands and houses must
forfeit their property, if they do not immediately ex-
pose both their lives and their property, by disobeying their