The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-02 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1841.

the whole of England loudly blames Louis
PHILIPPE for the bloodshed which his intrigues
and his inordinate and unjust ambition have
shed in Spain : but the mischief he has caused
is not a 'tithe so great as the mischief effected by
that fiscal regulation which shuts our ports, di-
verts the stream of emigration from the United
States, and mars the prosperity of two nations.
The comfort of the multitude is not to be sacri-
ficed
to what interested men call national policy
or national glory. To mar the prosperity of two
great nations, is to make the Government the
enemy of the human race. From the mo-
ment it assumes that character, it becomes a
question whether it be not the duty of men to
destroy it. Let it persevere in such a course,
and mankind will be constrained to sweep
it away as an unbearable nuisance.

In a Minute concerning slavery in the East
Indies, drawn up by Lord AUCKLAND, dated
May 6, 1841, and recently published, is the fol,
lowing statement :
" I not enter into much detail in pointing out the
generally mild character of what is termed slavery in this
cor.ntry, or in marking how the agrestic servitude which
iists in several of its districts is connected chiefly with
distinctions of caste, and will be upheld, notwithstanding
any measures of the public authorities, by the force which
national habit and opinion have imparted to those dis-
tinctions. The facts relating to the various descriptions
raid modifications of bondage as prevailing in different
provinces, are set forth by the Commissioners with dis-
tinctness and precision. On the effect of caste in main-
thining agricultural servitudO, even under circumstances
in many respects favourable to freedom, instructive Far-
t ieulars will be found in the evidence respecting the dis-
tricts of Coorg and Malabar. Iu Coorg many of the slaves
emancipated by Government on its own estates have from
various causes, been led to destroy their certificates of
freedom, and to place themselves again in servitude under
their former masters; in Malabar all the influence of the
English proprietor of an estate cannot obtain for any of
his labourers a greater degree' of respect or privilege
than the ztrict, local usages of caste allow to them ; they
remain, whatever the liberty of action which he accords
to them, as degraded as before, for they cannot raise
themselves above the low class to which they belong,
aid must mix only, on the terms to which they have
h een accustomed, with their caste brethren, the Churmur
S. ayes of the province."
There are several other passages in the same
Minute which prove that slavery is very mild in
India, and that both masters and slaves, on the
principle that use is second nature, prefer it to
freedom, as the Minute says, for their mutual
interest. We, however, quote the passage, less
to illustrate the mild character of slavery in
India, which is, however, worthy of notice, than
the progress of society in Europe. It is equally
we. think illustrative of the present condition in
India, and the past condition of Europe.
A. very doubtful point in the history of Europe
is the abolition of the serfdom or slavery which
once very generally existed. Some writers refer
it to the municipal regulations of particular Sove -
reigns ; others to a Pope's bull ; others again to
the introduction of Christianity; and others again
to the progress of civilization, which seems inde-
pendent of any system of religion, for it has
made progress under all systems, and did not make
any particular jump after the commencement of
the Christian era. Oa the contrary, it is a re-
ceived opinion, concentrated and expressed in
the phrase " the dark ages," to distinguish the
few centuries which followed the complete de-
strufAion of the Roman Empire, that civilization
retrograded or was almost lost, and ,had almost
died out as Christianity became OA religion of
Europe. Now this Minna! of Lord AUCKLAND
proves, we think, that the latter, or the progress
of civilization, aid. not Popes' bulls or a monarch's
laws, was the cause of the abolition of slavery .
Neither a statutory regulation nor a Pope's bull
would have had any more influence in Europe
in the middle ages than the decrees of the Go-
vernor-General have in India at this day. They
cannot prevail over the Customs of a people now,
and could not have prevailed then.
Something of the same kind may be noticed in
the United States, where it has been found im-
possible, even in those States' in which slavery
doeSnotexist, tosecure the free blacks the advan-
tages which are enjoyed, by persons of a different
colour. Their society is as much scorned, and.
their feelings as much lacerated, as if they were
still slaves. In Mr. WARD'S account of Mexico,
too, it is stated that the Indians of the capital
I seemed at the service of any White who chose
to command them, notwithstanding they had
been declared free citizens by the Constitution.
The custom of command on the one hand, and
obedience on the other, was more influential than
the words of the lawgiver, and though. the In-
dians were declared to be free they continued to

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look on Mr. SMITH'S. offence, and all similar
offences, as the natural and necessary conse-
quence of the example continually set by the
landholders and established clergy, of extorting
the wealth of the people on false pretences.

The result of the municipal elections through-
out the country, so favourable to the Liberal
party, prove that hatred of Toryism is as strong
as it was ten years ago. The apathy of the late
Government threw a damp on the spirit of -Re-
formers. L Sir ROBERT PEEL, with his rene-
gades in the Cabinet, took advantage of the
circumstance, and turned the MELBOURNE Ad-
ministration out of office, on pretence of
saving the country. Some believedl others
doubted his sincerity. The test lia.s been ap-
plied. High Tories have been appointed to
important places; no relief for trade is held out;
the great body of the operative clasSes,are bor-
dering on starvation, while the Minister and his
colleagues are occupied in giving grand dinner
parties. The returns for Leicester, Derby, Leeds,
and numerous others, show what the electors
think ofthe Do-nothing Government.