The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-24 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PIT '.IC JOURNALS

rile ce <<JS D.AY.
sCHRONICLE.—The business of Parliament com-
mences to-day, ; but whatever interest ie. directed towards
its proceedings rather bears " the character of mere
curiosity than that of a sense of the importance of its
probable decisions, or a disposition to abide by them
practically or permanently. People are on the look-Out
to. see-how Sir Robert Peel will wriggle out of the diffi-
culties of his position, or to mark the conduct of diffe-
.
• rent sections of the heterogeneous majority in the use
of its newly-acquired preponderance. For such curiosity
there is indeed abundant stimulus. The elections have
conferred ascendancy upon a single class of Members
—those for the English counties ; the great question at
issue being one in whiCh their interests are presumed
to be in collision with those of the rest of the community.
The majority .of • Scotch Members, of. Irish Members,
and of the representatives of English boroughs, are,
together with her Maje Sty's Government, opposed
to the continuance of the-Corn monopoly. The English
County Members, leagued with the several minorities of
• those sections of the representation, overpower them all.
They are the ruling power ; and the public waits to see
how they will use their preponderance. It behoves then
to consider well their position. The mastery they have
acquired should, of itself, make them pause before they
affirm the perpetuity of monopoly, and " shut the gates
of mercy on mankind." They are judges in their own
cause. There is no tribunal to which they and their
opponents make their pleas. Their advocacy is to them-
selves. Their will may supersede reason. The question
whether law shall keep up rents at the cost of the
labourer's diminished loaf, is in their hands ; and
they are the rent-receiving class. Nothing hinders
their adjudicating in their own favour. They can un-
questionably, with all constitutional forms, award them-
selves the profits which must be wrung from the toil and
the privations of millions. On this matter they are law
and sovereignty. The nation waits and watches ; the
world looks on ; that is all. Parliamentary resistance
is at their feet ; the spoil is before them ; what will it
do, this landlords' House of Commons ? Corn-laws are
the landlords' interest ; but the full means of legally se-
curing it may, perhaps, induce some reflection upon the
sort of interest thus constituted. Human interests are
'of various sorts, from the simple transfer of coin from one
pouch into another, up to that interest which exists in
the kindly and approving hearts of our fellow creatures,
only to be attained by the semblance of moral justice,
or that yet higher approval_ which is only to be se-
cured by its reality. The landlords' interest in the corn
anonopoly is not that humane interest which consults the
sights of all who toil, by promoting such interchange of
the products of-their labour as must needs benefit the in-
elastrious every where. It is not the patriotic interest
which binds itself up with the prosperity of an entire
eretion, and opposes no class objects to the well being'
of the whole. Nor- is it an equal class interest as to
agriculture. It keeps the farmer in a state of degrading
dependence and demoralizing uncertainty ; the labourer
- in one of semi-starvation. Even the- permanent value
of land is injured by the monopoly. The measure of
:that value is only to be found in the prosperity of maim-
femme. Acres of houses are worth more than acres of
''wheat, and they enhance the worth of all acres near
'them. And what acres are not, or will not soon, by
-more rapid means of communication, be brought near
-them ? The landlord's interest in the monopoly is only.'
the loWesti dirtiest, most evanescent interest of his class;
taking that class as distinguished, not only from the com-
mercial classes, but from the rest of the agricultural. •
TIMES.—A meeting of the.principal leaders of the
Conservative party was held on Sunday, at which the
entirse to be pursued on the opening of this first Session
of the new Parliament, and the communication on the
pert of-the Crown, was discussed and settled. The re-
sult of this conference is, we understand, that an amend-
ment to the Address will be moved in both Houses—in
the Lords by the Earl of Ripon, and in the Commons by
Mr. Wortley, seconded by Lord Bruce. " Now, mark
how a plain tale will (in both cases) put the Addresses
down." Want of confidence—want of confidence is a
sufficient answer. How long a Government can go on
—whatever projects they may conceive, or whatever
proposals they may have to make—without the con-
fidence of either Peers ar Commons, it is not difficult to
conjecture. Each House will express its opinion ; and
her Majesty, with the true constitutional principles
'lehich have ever belonged to the Sovereigns of her fit-
fully, will turn to her people and listen to their voice,
expressed from the only legitimate organs, her two
-"louses of Parliament. According to the plan laid down
:in what may be called Lord John Russell's programme,
Ministers will go out ; and this first event of a con-
stitutional change in this great country will probably
itake place before the end of the week. Sir Robert
Peel has had time to arrange his plans, and to fix
upon his persons. The great Duke—whatever may
the his own situation, is comparatively of little im-
port—will diffuse the lustre of his name over the whole
body. Lord Aberdeen, it is understood, will resume the
Station for which he is alike qualified by natural talents
'and preceding experience—namely, that of Foreign Se-
.eretary. Lord'" Stanley goes to the Colonial-office in the
:Place of Lord J. Russell. Lord Lyndhurst will of
*course take the Great seal. The other offices, without
difficulty, find possessors fitted for the discharge of their
functions, into the detail of which, if we should
eritcr, we might, perhaps commit some trivial errors.
It is not expected that Ministers can or will at-
tempt to make any resistance. They have, in-
deed, themselves pointed out the course they mean to
adopt—they will go out. Lord John Russell has stated,
that their duties will then be, to watch the proceedings
of their successors, and prevent them from doing mis-
chief, or committing extravagance. If he anti his col-
t" deuce had not been so watched and guarded themselkes
10(1 prevented from committing mischief, perplexing and
e4Aliappy as the state of the country is, it would have
been much worse. 'We do not object to an opposition,
based upon good old constitutional principles, watching
the proceedings of the men in power. Perhaps we owe
some of the worst laws on our statute-books to the ac-
'cordance of those parties.
HERALD.—Few questions are more frequently put
.itte't now by party quidnutecs, than, " What will Lord
reeigham do during the Session about to open ?"
" Heaven knows," is the almost universal reply ; " but
there will be some fun now that he will be again in the
louse of Lords." This answer discloses a truth, which
Is worthy effthe serions consideration of Lord Brougham.
Tiowever match his Lordship's studied eloquence may be
admired ; however much a " mute -Senate" may atten-
tively and even sympathetically listen to his fierce
invectives, his coarse and excruciating irony, and
bie elaborate and ingenious special pleading ; how-
ever much new friends may flatter, and - old friends
denounce his Lordship, yet is Lord Broughamn
devoid of moral influence in the country. In
.-zutellectual powers, in information, and in high
'lteigns Lord Brougham is as far superior to any of his
former contemporary labourers in Whiggery, as the
noon-day sun is in brightness to a farthitig rushlight.
Lord Prougham has undoubtedly, in his past career, done
Much harm ; during the greater portion of his life he has
given up to " party what was meant for mankind ;" but
he is a man of genius, and to such men redemption for
"'as past can always be achieved; For upwards of a
'Darter of a century Lord Brougham
"Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest spirit
That fought"
1U the ranks of Whiggery ; he alone preserved the
,WhYkes, discomfited and in dismay, together as a political
body; lie ultimatele, secured fbr his party place and power,
er himself rank and pension;' but, even when their hold of
`3fsCe seemed strongest—when to all appeuxince the desti-
nies of the country were in their hands for the next twenty
Yeer L erd Brougham renounced his party, withdrew him-
'ielf from ,'he friendship of his early associates, disclaimed
Participation in their views, ridiculed their ability,
4,1 d up to st:0111 their motives, and opposed with all
his might their ."treasures. In thus acting we willingly
!.eeord to Lord Brougham political honesty and personal
Disappojnted his Lordship may have been at
the treatment he met with from his former colleagues
be'',tld ungrateful associates -; but he was more disgusted
,ue" their. general conduct, than' by their meanness towards
hunself. He did not rush into the arms of the opposi-
*cm ; rejoicing in his release from his former party, he
tlttietly surveyed for a time those wham lie had so long
Iljed so bitterly opposed ; lie became slo:elY aware that
4s had, while in the bonds of faction and lender the in-
iitnce of those who admit of no merit beys7.,nd their
t'wit narrow circle, underrated the pure and lot pur-
Poses, the patriotic ambition, the stern integrity, and
the matchless good sense of the foremost man of his
age—tile Duke of Wellington. At the Cinque Ports' fes-
tival Lord Brougham nobly and eloquently recanted his
jr°`'t errors, and his subsequent" conduct has demon-
.tl'ated that he now understands and appreciates the ex-
c"-Ilenee and greatness of the most modest and most able
„e
--British statesmen. For this political regeneration we
belie ye Lord Brougham to be much indebted to the
;cattily-
of a Peer who thotoughly knows, and now
;cattily despises, Lord Melbourne and his colleagues—
'Ye Mean the venerable Marquis Wellesley. Both these
'll:thle persons—Lord Wellesley-, from his extreme age,
l'eoessarely, so far as the public is concerned, in silence
have for- some years beheld in their former political
Associates,—

" An impious crew
Of men c onsviring to uphold their state,
By worse thair hostile deeds, violating the ends
, For which our ,lountry is a name so dear ;
,00th now rejoice at .the-approaching downfall of the
`Vhig-Radical Administcation.
POST.—The journals of the beaten Ministerial party
announce, with their accustomed accuracy, that there are
Such divisions in the Conservative ranks as must prove to
the Conservative leader the .'mpossibi,'ity that he should
tarry on the Government. This inforina,"ion, upon which
l!litt e Whig-Radicals appear to pride the.-eselves not a
le, is no doubt derived from the very t,'‘me source
"hich enabled that careful and veracious joornal the
Globe to assure its numerous readers, on the 2.5 th June,
tl at the general election, then. just about co commence,
Y:otild give an excellent working majority to Loll
douse
Iln ',Russell ; that the Conservative majority in the
()Ilse of Lords would then "eat their leek" in calm
Ircistocratic dudgeon, while Sir Robert Feel and
-6°1:1 Stanley would quietly take their seats a.; Opposi-
tion leaders in the House of Commons, well pleased to
relieved from the importunities of thow Nvho had
Z'eied them strong enough in the country to take
ce• The minuteness of this information made: it, no
4i
tvonbt, very interesting at the time ; and it was, indeed,
erYthinm that could be wished, except for .his trifling
r,cumstaiice, that it happened to be altogether a mis-
-44e. The same admirable organ of Whijac4ical truth
,_
-,_"nounced at the same time, that the citizens of London
Iveould within a very few days record their opinion of the
_l3 nefits which Whig-Radical policy held out to the com-
Zl!ercial world, by rejecting every one of the Conserva-
v,e candidates who so absurdly aspired to rep resent the
"Y in Parliament, and by triumplutntly• return-
Lord John Russell -at the head of the
This, too, was extremely interesting ; b: it, un-
lIY, lake the general information as, to the. e lee-
-I,ll.liresults it turned out to be quite a, mistake. The
g-Radicals did not get a working t4.ajority nor any