The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-23 00:00:00

eic mina :zz) Ant.
LONDON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1849.

However the reactionary conspirators may endea-
vour to blink the matter, it is indisputable that the
French Republic has, since the moment of its founda-

tion on the 26th of last February, been gradually,
securely, and resolutely consolidating itself upon a
democratic foundation. Within a comparatively few
days the Parisians will have reached the anniversary
of the Revolution. If ever a nation had reason to
celebrate the anniversary of their political emancipa-
tion, that nation is the French. For, on the comple-
tion of the first year of her existence as a Republic,
France will find that she has visibly progressed to-
wards the realisation of all those wishes which were
once derided as chimerical. So far from retro-
grading, as was prophesied, she has, we re-
peat, progressed. True that her commercial
paralysis :and her financial bankruptcy can scarcely
be said to have betrayed any substantial tokens of
improvement ; but her commerce was tottering to its
do wnfal before the subversion of the monarchy, and
her exchequer was in a state of abject insolvency
before the royal poltroons of the last dynasty were
kicked out of the back entrance of the Tuileries.
The rational spectators of revolutionized France have
not been silly enough to anticipate any such admi-
nistrative miracles as the sudden extrication of trade
from its involvements, or as the securing of a surplus
in the national income with a deficit of twenty mil-

lions sterling to account for in the first in-
stance. The hopes of the well-wishers of
France lave been of a somewhat more rea-
sonable character; and those hopes have been
almost without an exception fulfilled. The first tre-
mendous difficulties of the revolution have been con-
quered by three successive Governments, the authority
of which Governments developed and enlarged in
proportion with the increase of the dangers threaten-
ing the very existence of the commonwealth. In the
period when a magnanimous people retained in their
hands the power squandered away by the Sovereign,
with a
p Administrationatriot
c guidedwwisdom
them s
such
h instinctsas
willof
theth Provisional
e multitude
ultitu
redound to its everlasting glory. When the factions
who were secretly hungering after pillage and thirst-
ing
after anarchy began to attack the very
basis of the State, and to undermine at
once Order, the Law, and Property, the
authority of the Democratic Cabinet was concen-
trated in the Executive Commission. And when, in
defiance of all the restraints that could be given • by
Modera'ion, the Terrorists appeared in arms against
society, the rigour of the Government was enhanced
for the emergency by its retention in the grasp of a
Military Dictator. Republicanism was saved by
these means from falling simultaneously into contempt
and inextricable confusion.

Beyond all these memorable achievements of the
statesmen of February, they have drawn together a

national representation ; and that national repre.7,en-
tation has digested and proclaimed the Republican
Constitution. A President has in like manner been
chosen by universal suffrage ; and the nominee of that
great .functionary—M. BOULAY DE LA MEURTHE—
has been subsequently accepted by the National As-
sembly as the Vice-President, or second magistrate,
of the Republic. All these things have been accom-
plished in spite of the adverse predictions of the
Counter-Revolutionists, and accomplished, more-
over, before the arrival of the first revolutionary an-
niversary.

We cannot insist too pointedly on these facts, be-
cause they are indicative of a loyalty to that order of
things which has prevailed since the first political
explosion of 1848—an order of things described by
the reactionnaires: as hateful to the population.
At a time when really sensible men are trembling
with superstitious awe before the vaticinations
of Presbyterian divines, and recluses of Orval, it is
well to have a testimony so startling as the present
of the frivolity of those individuals who pretend to be
the inspired augurs of futurity. It is well to discover
that the magic wand is so much larch, and the pro-
phetic garment ,so much dimity. The Precisions
were not more sanguine of, one of these days, behold-
ing the Sovereign PONTIFF go off like a lucifer-
match in a blaze of detonating brimstone, than were
the Legitimists of witnessing the abrupt evapora-
tion of the Republic. We were only to
wait a little while that was all ! and
were then to see these orators, and soldiers,
and statesmen of democracy trampled down under
the wrath of an indignant and deceived people, and
replaced by a legitimate Sovereign. A legitimate
Sovereign ! Who ? HENRI CINQ ? Or the COMTE
DE PARIS ? Or the PRINCE DE JOINVILLE ? Or the
Duches3 D'ORLBANS as Regent ? That was the rub
—to select ! There were so many claimants to a seat
on the Throne—that Throne which-7-(these good
prophets seem quite to have forgotten the occurrence)
—was carried as a trophy on the shoulders of the
people round the boulevards of Paris, and then broken
in pieces and piled up into a bonfire! Well ; but
the Throne, said they, was, not as the EMPEROR used
irreverently to term it, a deal chair, covered
with velvet and gilt nails, but—in the hearts of the
people ! We were to have all over again La
Vend 63 and the desertion of a DUMOURIEZ, the insur-
gent heroism of the peasantry and the petulant auda-
city of the
_emigres! when-0 shame to the dege-
neracy of races !—a vote was given for the elevation
of the Arab Emir ABD-EL-KADER to the Presidential
office, and that vote was slipped into the urn of elec-
tion by one of the house of LAROCHEJAQUELIN ! We
were to see the last descendant of the BOURBONS
anointed with the holy chrism in the Cathedral of
Notre Dame, when lo ! the representative of the
Imperial dynasty of NAPOLEON was spontaneously
elected by nearly seven millions of votes, and
solemnly installed by the Assembly in the Palace of
the Elysee Nationale ! So much for the prediction
of the Legitimists. As if to afford an additional
argument that their conjectures are erroneous, their
candidate for the Vice-,Presidentship has been re-
jected, and M. BOULAY DE LA MEURTHE announced
to be the colleague of President BONAPARTE.
Whether the National Assembly be dissolved on the
15th of April or not, it is certain that before the
hour of its dissolution has been sounded the Republican
institutions will have been securely built up on their
democratic foundation.

We must really apologise to his Grace the Duke of
GuarToN, and to his illustrious predecessors. It ap-
pears that we unwittingly underrated the rewards
accorded by a generous nation for the pre-eminent ser-
vices rendered by that distinguished family. It is
true that we pointed out (in The Sun of 2d January
instant) that they had been in the receipt of no less
than 11,1991. 2s. per annum, payable out of the
Excise and Post-office revenues, during a period of
one hundred and seventy-five years, and that the
total amount thus paid if accumulated at compound
interest would now amount to the enormous
sum of 1,290,663,9551. sterling. We did not, however,
include in the calculation the snug pickings derived
from the Lord 'Wardenship of Whittlewood Forest,
which has been held by the successive inheritors of
the title. We have, however, been considerably
enlightened on the point by a tract just published
under the auspices of the Liverpool Financial Reform
Association, a portion whereof we yesterday extracted
into our columns.

It appears, then, that not contented with hereditary
pensions to the amount of 11,199/. 2s. per annum
(a sum manifestly inadequate to sustain the ducal
dignity of the Fitzroys), his Grace had kindly ac-
cepted the situation of hereditary Lord Warden of
Whittlewood Forest. It is not stated that the duties
attached to that important office are very onerous, or
that much of his Grace's valuable time is necessarily
devoted to their performances. The salary is not
large— 371. 10s. per annunf is all that is paid as a direct
remuneration for the services of a nobleman who has
reached the highest rank in the British Peerage
which it is possible for a subject to attain. No ob
jection could possibly be taken to-the amount. His
Grace, by accepting the situation, became a
trustee for the public, bound to turn that
portion of the national domains, of which
be vas the appointed manager, to the most
beneficial use, and to render a strict account of the
revenues derivable therefrom. An humble steward
could scarcely be obtained for a smaller sum. We
must confess that we were forcibly impressed by
the great moderation exhibited by those distinguished
noblemen, who, notwithstanding their princely re-
venues, and wide-spread domains, consented thus to
devote their energies to the public service, and that for
so small a stipend. It is true that the returns to the
National Exchequer are not very considerable,
11. 3s. Oid., was the net income derived last
year from the forest. Indeed, so far as the
public revenues are concerned, it would be far better
that the accounts should not be complicated by any
mention thereof. We imagine that the printing in
relation thereto, and the correspondence carried` on in
the department of Woods and Forests, which are
charged against other funds, must more than coun-
terbalance the profits. There are other contingencies
too that may arise to render the royal domain a
" damnosam hereditatem." Lawsuits are occasionally
undertaken, and heavy bills of costs incurred, for
the protection of rights which it appears are
not worth preserving. A suit was commenced
in 1834 respecting the timber in Whych-
wood Forest (under the Lord Wardenship
of Lord CHURCHILL—a descendant of another here-
ditary claimant on the Post-office revenue), which
during its continuance, and until it became abated by
the death of one of the litigating parties, the late
Lord CHURCHILL, in 1845, cost the public no less
than 7,0131. Notwithstanding that large expenditure
no adjudication ever took place. The suit may at
any moment be revived, to be prosecuted with equal
vigour, and at an equally moderate outlay, unless some
compromise can be effected with the present Lord
CHURCHILL, the new hereditary Lord Warden of
Whychwood Forest.
Under these circumstances, it would seem to
be a wise and prudent economy to offer these
forests as free gifts to any nobleman or gentleman
who could be found willing to accept the same, and
with sufficient patriotism to assume burdens that have
pressed with some weight upon the national purse.
It is true that Whychwood Forest did produce
last year 123/. ls. 7d., but that sum would scarcely
provide for the interest of the 7,0131. already ex-
pended in law costs, and would go but a very small
way in carrying on future litigation, should the suit
be proceeded with. The salary of 371,
to the Duke of GRAFTON, or even the
larger one of 621. 1 ls. Bd. to Lord CHURCHILL,
would, of course, be readily surrendered,
might be paid in lieu of a
or even a year's salary
notice to quit, to afford time to those noble servants
of the public to look out for other situations.
It appears, however, that in taking an account of
the profits of these situations, something more than
the mere salaries must be looked to. His Grace the
Duke of GRAFTON, in addition to his stipend of
37/. 10s., is allowed " Wakefield Lodge" as a resi-
dence, beside the pasturage of Wakefield lawn, con-
taining 200 or 300 acres. This is something to a pru-
dent man; but still more remains in the background.
He is also entitled to all the underwood, which is cut
every twenty-one years, and from which a handsome
revenue may be obtained. In addition, he is allowed
the unrestricted use of the game and venison, of