The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-12 00:00:00

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" England (he says), it must be observed, was a
great trading country, her mercantile capital was ♦ery
great, and likely to become still greater and greater
every day, not only before the Act of navigation
had established the monopoly of the colony
trade, but before the trade was very considerable. In
the Dutch war, during the Government of Cromwell,
her navy was superior to that of Holland, and in that
which broke out in the beginning of the reign of Charles
11. it was equal, perhaps superior, to the united navies of
France and Holland. Its superiority would, perhaps,
scarce appear greater in the present times,
at least if the Dutch navy was to bear
same proportion to the Dutch commerce now which it
did then. But this great naval power could not in either of
thece wars be ascribed to the Act of navigation. During
the first of them the plan of that Act had been but just
tormed, and though before the breaking out of the
second it had been fully enacted by legal authority, yet
no part of it could have had time to produce any con-
siderable effect, and least of all, that part which estab
lished the exclusive trade to the colonies."

Hence, then, it appears that the maritime defences
of England could be maintained in full efficiency
without the operation of this boasted law ; and the
question with the nation is, whether it is prepared to
pay so high a price for some fancied advantage in that
respect—whether the existing naval estimates,
already sufficiently high, are to be indirectly en-
hanced by the great injury done to our trade and
commerce, and thus retarding the full develop-
ment of the pr inciples of free trade by the main-
tenance of the obnoxious code.

What is to be done in Ireland and for Ireland ?
The Protectionists have promulgated their scheme :
Lord STANLEY has stated his Views in the hereditary
branch of the Legislature, while the Hon. Member
for Buckinghamshire has declared that he is pre-
pared with a comprehensive plan for the ame-
lioration of the country, which he will bring
forward when his present motion -is carried.
Even the Right Hon. Member for Tam worth has cast
aside his habitual reserve, and spoken out plainly and
unequivocally. how long, then, are we to wait for
the Ministerial project? As yet, the " rate in aid"
is all that has been carried, and we cannot suppose
that they will remain contented with merely mo,lify-
ing the poor-laws. When are the long-promi,ed
and anxiously expected remedial measures to be
introduced ? Something must surely be done.
The Government cannot abdicate its functions
and suffer its chief rivals, the most daring aspirants
to office, to bring forward propositions that should
emanate from the Cabinet.

The great want of the sister kingdom is, employ-
ment for the people. It possesses ample resources,
which, if fully developed, would speedily elevate it
in the scale of nations, and make the inhabitants
being (as at present)
destitute condition, condition, unprofitably
pros-
perous and contented—the creators and producers of
innataiomnaislerNavbealeltha—ndin
consuming the productions of the country. It pos-
sesses real capital in the thews and sinews of its
labouring population, but that capital is suffered to
remain utterly waste and useless for want of proper
representatives—of a currency suited to the wants and
exigencies of the country.
Mr. RIG BY WAsoN, in a letter which will be found
in another column, emphatically calls upon the
Premier for his plan, and he has himself indicated
the fitting channel, by speaking of the waste lands,
more than six million acres whereof are utterly un-
productive, more than two-thirds of which might
be reclaimed so as to pay at least ten per cent. on
the necessary expenditure, the whole of which would
be applied in paying fairly-earned wages to those
who must now be fed without rendering any return
whatsoever therefor.

On Thursday last the Rev. J. Dufton, Rector of
Warehorne, delivered a highly interesting lecture to a
numerous and highly respectable audience of the mem-
bers and friends of the Ashford and Alfred Mechanics'
Institution, in the Assembly Rooms, Ashford. The
lecture (which was entitled
" Glimpses Science, and
the new Planet Neptune," its object being to illustrate
.
revealed truths) occupied nearly two hours the deli-
very, and was listened to with the deepest interest and
attention. The Reverend Lecturer's illustrations were
chiefly derived from certain phenomena of " Sound,
Light, and Electricity." He then proceeded to refer to
the new planet Neptune, pourtra)ing the manner in
which it has been discovered as one of
.the grand intel-
lectual feats of the age. Mr. Bufton was repeatedly ap-
plauded during the delivery of the lecture, and an earnest
request was made that he would consent to its publica-
tion.—Kentish Paper.
QUEEN'S THEATRE, llunn.----This place of amuse-
ment, in which M. Jullien held his last Monster Concert
here, is announced for re-opening, for histrionic art on
Monday, the 19th inst., under the management of Mr.
Cagle, a gentleman well-known in the theatrical circles
of London. Since Mr. Cale arranged for the occupancy
of the theatre, many alteration have been made lor pro-
moting the comfort of the audience, whilst the redecora-
ttona by Mr. George Peck, of Hull, bid fair to outstrip
anything of the kind hitherto displayed in the provinces.
Nothing now is wanting
but a first rate and well se-
lected corps dramatique, and this, we doubt not, Mr.
Caple is not only desirous of possessing, but will doubt-
lessly obtain.
SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.--A third and final
performanceof Handel's sublime oratorio, Israel in Egypt,
under the direction of Mr. Costa, is announced to take
place on Friday next, the 10th instant.