The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-15 00:00:00

&), L' 'WIN itit

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1849.

Sympathy for the Hungarians bas at length become
so conspicuously prevalent throughout England, that
the intelligence of it has already effected the Vien-
nese. Can the British Government remain indiffer-
rent to the feelings of the population ? Will the peo-
ple of these islands, regarding the course pursued by
Austria (as they do) with such unutterable abhor-
rence, permit the Cabinet to remain in its present
ments from the Russian army of the AUTOCRAT are
endeavouring to aid the soldiers of the young EM-
PEROR, in conquering the nationality of the Hun-
garians ? Will the inhabitants of the United Kingdom ,
consent to witness the lethargic proceedings of the
ruling administration, while the Magyars are fighting
with the heroism of despair, to secure their
independence against the brute force of two
enormous and allied despotisms ? Is the ar-
dour evinced both in the provinces and in the
metropolis in reference to the bravery of the warriors
of KOSSUTH nothing ? Are the meetings held in
London and in its vicinity nothing ? Are the as-
semblages convened in Manchester, in Derby, in
Cardiff, in Birmingham, nothing ? Is the Testimonial,
which is already upwards of eight hundred pounds,
and which has enabled several Hungarian patriots to
leave this country for the seat of war, via Constan-
tinople, is this Testimonial, we ask, nothing ? And if
there is any meaning in all these ardent demonstra-
tions of regard for the gallant race of Hungary—
that meaning is nothing less than a solicitude, and
(more than a solicitude) a resolution to force
the Government of her Britannic MAJESTY to
interpose between a glorious nation outraged in all
its sacred and immemorial rights, and two atrocious
and tyrannical assailants. England is resolved that
the disgrace entailed upon the Cabinet by its pro-
longed apathy shall in no degree devolve upon the
population. The people of England are vindicating
themselves nobly from this imputation of turpitude.
They have spoken through their own lips, and
through the lips of their representatives in Parlia-
ment. They have petitioned the Lords and
Commons. They have swelled the fund
of our subscriptions. They have elicited a
response so earnest from the more liberal section in
both Houses of the Legislature, that a memorial to
our Gracious SOVEREIGN is now receiving the signa-
tures of Lords and Commons—a memorial penned by
the Earl Ferzwunram, appealing to Queen VICTORIA
that out of the fulness of her royal heart, and in
sympathy with her loyal people, she would cause her
advisers to shake off the disgrace of their indolence,
and to assert the majesty, and the justice, and the
generosity of Great Britain, by repelling Austria and
Russia in their combined attack upon the Hungarians.
It was forcibly and admirably observed, on the oc-
casion of the great meeting held on Monday in the
Corn Exchange at Birmingham, that " sympathy on
the part of England was all very well," but that sym-
pathy was not enough, no matter whether that sym-
pathy was expressd in orations, in subscriptions, or
in acclamations. Something more is due to the
honour of England. Something more is due to the
sacred cause of the Hungarians. A. sudden and
powerful blow should be administered by
this country, the arbitrers of the destinies
of Europe, to the inhuman despotisms
of Russia and Austria, those absolute and imperial
Governments which have more than justified such an
interference by their violation of all the stipulations
of treaties, of all the sanctity of repeated oaths sworn
on the Holy Evangel, of all the sureties granted to
successive generations, of all the codes human and
divine, internal and international. To administer this
blow at once, and the most effectually, England should
do only one thing, though she should do that one
thing with the utmost simplicity and the
utmost expedition. England should forthwith
il
sheehril
aucktnowledge the independence of Hungary.
icalesu:lii,unthguars,yher so-called sympathy will
be
edernpenrde While, by acknowledging the
she would take the noblest,
the speediest, the quietest
, the
the strongest
Austria
reprisal for the infamous recresy b which
and Russia have entered into a coalition. Until
tEb gr
el a:, di
115 e a
h=as recognised
blot,
an a
d the
damning blot too, on
li
Hungarian nationality
national escutcheon.. By doing so our Govo ourment
would carry disnidy to the Imperial con.
spirators of 011mutz and St. Petersburgh
they would effect more, they would
bind

for ever to this country by the bonds of everlasting
gratitude one of the most heroic and illustrious of all
the races on the European Continent. Fortunately,
our interests and our honour coincide in impelling us
along this course, the only course which can ulti-
mately prove worthy of, and honourable to England.
Wherever Russia has extended her influence a mar-
ket for English merchandize has been closed.
Whereas, supposing the Magyars to prove trium-
phant over their gigantic foes, through the interposi-
tion of Great Britain, a splendid channel would be
opened through Fiume on the Adriatic, for the
flowing to and fro of the natural and artificial wealth
of the British manufacturers and the Hungarian
agriculturists. It is not, however, through the
pockets of Englishmen that we would now endeavour
to penetrate to their hearts. It is not to the policy
of our interference in the war between the
Magyars and the northern SOVEREIGNS that NA e would
refer. It is to the justice of their cause, it is to the
atrocities of their antagonists,.it is to the fair fame of
England jeopardised by her present attitude that we
would direct the attention of the empire. Knowing
these things, seeing them, feeling them, we are san-
guine that the people of England will insist so em-
phatically upon the interposition of the British Go-
vernment between the belligerents that the AUTOCRAT
and his stripling ally, the Austrian EMPEROR, will be
very soon astounded by the intelligence that Eng-
land has formally acknowledged the independence of
Hungary.

It is greatly to be regretted that the Committee ap-
pointed during the past session to inquire into the
events which had recently occurred at Ceylon should
have separated without making any report on the
matters brought under their consideration, and even
without the publication of the important evidence ad-
duced before them. It was true that the evidence was
not as complete and satisfactory as could have been
desired ; that there was a palpable deficiency arising
from the absence of necessary information, the
minutes of the Legislative Council for the last twelve
months having been wholly withheld, and the minutes
of the court-martials recently held in the island having
also been suppressed. Grave charges had, however,
been brought forward against the Governor, which,
if fully substantiated, would not only have justified
his suspension from office, but would have warranted
still mere serious proceedings. A great sacrifice of
human life had taken place in the colony; many
persons had been condemned to death, and actually
executed. Many had been banished, and the pro-
perty of others was confiscated under the sentence of
court-martials, but no adequate grounds were
assigned for this extraordinary interference with the
rights and privileges of British subjects. That
there had been an insurrection was certain,
but the causes that led to that insurrection,
which induced a people nho have been described by
one well acquainted with their manners and cus-
toms, as " docile and simple," to rise in arms against
the Government, are enveloped in obscurity. Great
discontent undoubtedly existed amongst the inha-
bitants, but it could not be ascertained whether there
wereejust grseands of complaint or not. The default
of the Governor in neglecting to comply with the
instructions he had received prevented the Committee
from coming to a sound conclusion, or forming an accu-
rate judgment on the several matters which they were
appointed to investigate. The recommendation of the
Committee, that a commission should be appointed to
inquire on the spot into the means taken for the
repression of the late insurrection at Ceylon, was
disregarded by the House of Commons. A motion
for that purpose, made by the zealous and energetic
Chairman, was negatived un almost the last day of the
session by a considerable majority. The inhabitants
are suffered to remain under the impression that the
Imperial Parliament is indifferent to their wrongs
and grievances, and that their just complaints will be
permitted to remain unredressed—a belief that
must be productive of the most injurious results,
and such as if uncontradictecl must tend materially
to weaken the allegiance they owe to the British
Government. The inquiry, however, will be fully
completed ; competent witnesses must be produced
before the Committee on their re-appointment. The
most stringent investigation will take place into all
the circumstances, and full, although tardy, justice
will ultimately be rendered to the aggrieved Cingalese.
It is almost unnecessary to speak of the vast im-
portance to the Home Government of that colony,
which has truly been termed " the key of our Eastern
Empire." Its geographical position, its commercial
and mineral treasures, its varied resources, render
it one of the most valuable nesress:_e_ es
the pritisti Crown. Under a wise and judicious
administration it might be made to produce a large
surplus revenue, after providing for every reasonable
expendittire, but, unfortunately, its wonderful capa-
bilities have hitherto been comparatively disregarded.
The local Government has exhibited the most
lamentable ignorance as to the real character and
moral position of the people; there has been an
unequal, partial, and impolitic distribution of the
Crown lands, and a totally erroneous system of taxa-
tion and finance. These errors have been well ex-
posed by Mr. CHARLES WYNNE PAYNE, a gentleman
who possesses a sound practical knowledge
of the social position of the island, ac •
quired during a protracted residence therein.
We have already directed the public attention to the
admirable pamphlet of Mr. PAYNE on Ceylon.* That
gentleman, who formerly held a commission in her
MAJESTY'S service, had resided for many years in the
colony, he had mixed with the Cingalese, whose lan-
guage he thoroughly understood, and to whose man-
ners he conformed. He had acquired for himself the
enviable title of the " Natives' Friend," and dur-
ing his sojourn had accumulated a vast body
of " native evidence," by simply listening to
the complaints of the people, and acq.eunainTptrhiaonedgouivncehfrtiionmyr-e--
osi
nef
al
vastft ov with iattdhhvua theirthus
tobtaineda g es.manifoldl It
hasen a b
lagel
drr ieetahvdaeyn c
Colonialbese
ment to reform many glaring abuses, and to mate-
rially increase the colonial revenues. In 1836 the
revenue amounted to little more than 87,0001., while
the expenditure was no less than 180,0001., but the
income was gradually increased by some degree of
attention to the disposal of the Crown lands, indicated
by Mr. PAYNE, until it amounted to nearly half a
million of pounds sterling per annum ; although it
has since fallen to about 400,0001., and the colonial
exchequer is still burdened with a debt of nearly
200,0001. sterling.
Mr. PAYNE has pointed out that under a judicious
system the revenue might be made to produce no less
than 1,700,0001., while with proper economy the
expenditure would not exceed 250,0001. per annum,
leaving a clear balance of 1,450,0001. per annum at
the disposal of the Government, and this large fund
might be obtained without oppressing or unduly
burdening the inhabitants, leaving them infinitely
happier, more contented, and prosperous than
they are at present. When such statements
are deliberately put forward by a trustworthy, an
unimpeachable, and a disinterested witness, who has
never sought for or desired personal advantage,
although he has so materially served his country,
surely no trouble should be spared to ascertain their
accuracy. If well founded (as we believe them to be)
how much have those to answer for who betrayed the
trust confided to their charge, either from gross
negligence, or possibly from worse motives. Many
serious defalcations have taken place among
members of the Civil Service ; many
extensive grants of land have been obtained,
and even estates of considerable value may be dis-
covered, that have never been in any manaer registered
or accounted for. When such assertions are made
by a British officer and a gentleman a full and search.
ing inquiry should be instituted. Mr. PAYNE is
now in England : his testimony may be easily pro-
cured. The Committee cannot properly close their
labours without obtaining his evidence, and probing
to the very foundation the matters he has brought
forward. Added to the facts already on record, a
primd facie case is established—a case at least of such
strong suspicion as not merely to justify, but to ren-
der imperative, the strictest and most searching in-
vestigation.

Immediately before going to press this afternoon
we received a long communication from M. Louis
BLANc. To-morrow evening the letter addressed to
us by 'that distinguished refugue shall bq in-
serted in our columns. his known abili•

* " The Eastern Empire—Crown Colonies," By
Charles Wyune Payne, Esq. (Firs; Series.)