The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-14 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNSLS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
SlR—Une of the greatest blessings of a free country
is the liberty of the press ; one .of its greatest curses is
its licentiousness. Persons of the keenest sagacity have
sometimes been perplexed to trace the exact line of
boundary that should mark the legitimate exercise of its
power, and prescribe the rule that should restrain its
excesses. But, apart from minute distinctions and scru-
pulous refinements, some things are so obvious and pal-
pable, that they cannot be easily overlooked, nor safely
disregarded. The concurrent opinion of multitudes—
I might say of millions—is, that besides other fearful
signs of the times, the high interests of morality and
religion are seriously endangered by the present state of
the public press. At the risk of incurring unmerited
invective and misrepresentation, to which I am no
stranger, and to which no man can be a stranger who
occupies a situation of any prominence, and who firmly
and fearlessly maintains great principles that look with
a rebuking aspect upon the prejudices and passions of
either political or theological partisans—l say, Sir, at
the risk of incurring such reproach and hatred, I claim
your attention especially, and that of other editors ge-
nerally, to a calm, resolute, but I trust, not undignified
remonstrance on this subject.
" Party divisions," to quote from Mr. Burke, " whe-
ther on the whole operating for good or evil, are things
inseparable from free government. This is a truth
which, I believe, admits of little dispute, having been es-
tablished by the uniform experience of all ages. The
part a good citizen ought to take in these divisions has
been a matter of much deeper controversy. But God
forbid that any controversy relating to our essential
morals should admit of no decision." He adds, and with
what propriety and force the same statement may apply
to the present crisis, let truth determine, " Every month
has brought on its periodical calumny. The abuse has
taken every shape which the ability of the writers could
give it; plain invective, clumsy raillery, misrepresented
anecdote. No meth.,d of villifying the measures, the
abilities, the intentions, or the persons which compose
that body (the party of which he is speaking) has been
omitted." * Words appear, as by. prophecy, to point ts
very character of those vituperations by which the DM:
senting body are profusely assailed in the present day.
Sir, what has transpired in consequence of the recent
Conference of 'Ministers of every Denomination, held at
the Town Hall, Manchester, on the subject of the Corn-
laws, is the immediate occasion of my addressing you in
this letter ; fur I wish it to be solemnly considered, whe-
ther slander and lying of the grossest description do not
tend to disparage the character of our country, demora-
lise her people, blind the eyes of her rulers, and pervert
the judgment of our insulted nation ? I ask whether the
purposes of party are paramount to the interests of the
suffering mass; whether a people starving for bread are
to be required to stifle their complaints and see their
children perish amidst wretchedness and want, and in
silence, while the gentlemen of the press are deliberating
and discussing, not how they shall devise or aid in the
best methods to relieve their distresses, but how they shall
must effectually hurl their thunderbolts at the heads of
the Ministers of religion who voluntarily and disinter-
estedly come forward to attempt their deliverance; and
whether the intellectual and moral state of the community
at large is such that nu sigh teous laws can be maintained by
unmeasured reproaches, venemous scurrility, and malig-
nant personalities. No sooner did the Manchester Con-
ference commence its proceedings than the triple-headed
asonster, fsbled to be at the gate of hell, seemed to be-
coax instinct with real existence, and to pour forth ap-
propriate llowlings of fury and madness. I say it
seemed so one was reminded of the classical story—not
that I would :'ken men to dogs—nevertheless the fiction
of Cerberus was ealled up to view by the fierce. looks
and loud vouiferatiosig of thoi%e who should be rev-amia-
ble, candid, and well-priccipled men.
Look, Sir, at the misrepresentation of the individual
whom you emphatically, and s:'ith a studious sanction,
call your " own reporter." He says "There were few
Dissenting ministers present whose mimes were ever
heard of before withont the walls of their o7n chapels,"
except six or seven to whom he refers, of whom one was
not there, and another is altogether misnamed. He
declares that he " neither saw nor heard of
any clergyman of the Church of England," though
in the very seine brief enumeration, in pure ignorance or
mendacity, he gives the name of a clergyman as one of
th.e very six or seven in question. Ile affirms that the
number of the auditors during the day's proceedings
never exceeded forty persons, and began with eleven ;
• whereas not only were the seats occupied, but multi-
tudes more would have entered had there been accom-
modation. In your own leader it is stated that " about
a score of sectarian preachers have been able'.. to see no
seaaner of reason why they should not incorporate them-
selves .!nto a synod of tabernacle sarans, by hOlding a
pastoral conference' for the advancement of faction' at
Manchester." ,You further describe that " neither pains
nor puffs were shared to give the thing ec.et, when 10, on
calling the roll of Csnected attendants, this mighty affair
dwindles into a conclave of some thirty obscure zealots I"
It is stated also that these ,"ere also " almost exclusively
of the Lancashire brotherhood." Let me just inform you,
Sir—no, You were informed—fit me just refer to
the facts that nearly six hundred and sfty ministers were
present ; that nearly or quite fifteen hunci.."4 had given in
their adherence, but unavoidable circums:"`mees pre-
vented their attendance ; and they came from %:'e most
distant parts of the British empire ; that their eager at-
tendance on the occasion was never remitted ; that their
unanimity and depth• of religious feelings were never
equalled ; that leading men of nearly all denominations
were associated in it ; and that to the last the hall was
densely crowded by persons admittled as spectators, and
no doubt always contained from ten to twelve hundred
persons !
Is a four days' Convention of this nature to be de-
spised ? Will the witnessing thousands of Manchester
be made to believe—will an insulted country anda bused
truth admit the circulation of the great falsehood that
six hundred were only twenty ? Can the ultimate im-
pression be favourable to any party in Church and State.
who seek to be, or submit to be, beguiled, befooled, and
led astray by audacious mendacity, prompted by hatred,
or prompted by secret instructions, to make the worst
that can be made of the meeting, that the effect may be
neutralised."
Sir, I know the press, and hail its legitimate use as an
important means of moral benefit to the world. It may
be the safeguard of a nation, and the handmaid of reli-
gion. Where used and not abused it must be productive
of the happiest results to the cause of humanity, of truth,
and of religion; but let it be venal, let it be false, let it
be employed for purposes of party and of spleen, let it lie
away a confidence it asks to obtain, and it will become
the scandal of our age, and the ruin of our country. From
the awful consequences of faction and anarchy, springing
from the starvation inflicted by a Corn-law monopoly—
from the blindness of party zeal, which sees not, for it
will not see, the faults of its own legislation and the mad-
ness of its own oppressive spirit—above all, from the fatal
effects and the too late discovery of the self-destroying
power of acorrupt, truth- despising, man-hating, and God-
defying press, I say devoutly, " Good Lord deliver us!"
I disdain to notice the vulgar questionings and prepos-
terous ridicule employed against me and my brethren.
My aim is higher. It is to protest against a course of
proceeding by which anonymous writers (though better
known perhaps than they suppose) are endeavouring to
prejudice and corrupt the minds of our youth, which, it
not checked, may not only injure the present age, but
send down their poisoned streams of influence to distant
generations. You may dispute our titles, but we would
not exchange them for those of falsehood and hypocrisy.
You may deny our clerical character, but we will be con-
tent if we can resemble in spirit the unmitred apostles of
a lowly Master. You may call us factious, but we shall
ever believe that the worst faction in a State consists in
attempting to conceal the real state of a nation from its
rulers, and to hold up to scorn the friends of freedom,
humanity, and religion.—l am your; &c.
Hackney, Aug. 27, 1841. F. A. COX.

A short Account of a late short Administration
(1766).

The following account of a riot in St. Vin.
cent's, and ultimate punishment of the rioters, appears
in the Barbadoes Mercury. We cannot help observing
that
this is the only country in which the oppo-
sers of a legally-constituted force go unpunished.
One of the Nobles, of England, and a Colonel in her
3ni,,,ty,s service have been punished for this offence ;
and in St. yinoent it appears that it will not be tolerated
with impunity .
—" We published, immediately after re-
ceipt of
the intelligence, the particulars of violent out-
rage perpetrated by the mobocracy of the Island of St.
Vincent, on till. e 94th of May, in which they attacked
and completely
routed the police, and were only checked
from further rebellions conduct by the prompt appear-
ance of the military in aid of the civil power. The
_Royal Gazette o
fthe 26th ult. of that island, informs us
of a Special Court of Oyer and Ter-
of the proceedings
miner for the
of the rioters, who were ably de-
fended by counseTal
True bills were foun
Seven d for
were riot
sen-
and.
assault against t
nine of he priso
tenct.d imprisonment for eighteen calendar months
with hard labour, and two, under circumstances in miti-
gation, to twelve months, al so with hard labour, and at
the expiration of the time. to give security in 501. each,
to bo of good behaviour and keep the peace for twelve
months."—St. Ago Gazette, July 31.
THE WEATHER.—PABIS,
SATURD AY. —The
heat has returned, and become very op
day morning at four o'clock, M. Chevparleisesri've. Yester-
day' thermome-
,4„,le, or 57 of
thermome-
ter was at 13 8-lOths of the Centrigrade C.,
Fahrenheit; by midday had risen to 27 1-10t21
81 F.,
and by two had reached 29 6-10ths C., 3jl" F. The•_
beat on Saturday was intense, and there
of settled weather. was every
On Thursday evening last, a man named
Mum Cummins, fabouiw, of lletton, while in a public-
housie company in that township, offered in a drunken
bravado, to allow any one of the company to chop oaf
one of his ting,ers for a quart of ale, or two fingers for
two quarts of ale ; the landlord of the house, John
Cowey, took him at his word, and by the most cheerful
acquiesccnce of Cummins, implied a knife to one of his
little fingers, which was
.voluntarily laid upon a table,
told with a poker struck the knie, and severed the finger
1)y the first joint. Such was the agony of the poor un-
fortunate wretch that it took three men to hold him.
When recovering out of a fainting fit, in which he
thought he was (lying, he exclaimed, "If I die, don't
hurt Jack Cowey. The wound was dressed by a sur-
geon, anal he is recovering.;--Sundertind Herald.
During the week ended 2d September, 5,286
passengers travelled on the London and Brighton Rail-
way, and 5.145 on the Shoreham branch. The receipts
from the former were 2,0771. 95. Gd., and from the latter
1721. Os. sd. During the same period the receipts for
the merchant-lin traffic On the branch line were
581. 11s. (A-e., malijng the total receipts 2,3051. 03. 111 d.
—.l3riqkto; t7azet7E:

FROM THE DAILY PAYERS OF YESTERDAY.
STANDARD.—We refer our readers with sincere
satisfaction to the correspondence which has t ken place
Between Colonel Crichton and Sir Robert Peel, in allu-
sion to the insult said to have been offered to the feelings
of the Roman Catholics of Ireland by the High Sheriff
of the county of Fermanagh on a recent occasion,
when a seal of a highly improper character was affixed
to some 'public document emanating from his office.
We are assured that this outrage, so properly de-
precated .by the Right Honourable Baronet, was
committed by some underling as yet undiscovered,
and that, had the letter demanding an explanation
from the High Sheriff been couched in decently
respectful terms he would have shown that he had no
knowledge of, or connection with, the affair. However
this may have been, the leading Protestant residents of
Fermanagh have been convened by Colonel Crichton,
the Lieutenant of the county, for the purpose of taking
into consideration the remarks made by Sir Robert
Peel on the subject, and have signed an energetic protest
in condemnation of the act, expressing their total
disapprobation of any conduct calculated " to im-
pair the kindly feelings which so happily sub-
sist between all classes of her Majesty's subjects in that
neighbourhood." This document further states that in
" no part of the empire does greater tranquillity or more
marked obedience to the law exist than in that loyal
and united county." The reply of Sir Robert Peel,
whilst it disclaims the belief that the conduct com-
plained of could have been otherwise than dis-
approved of by the Protestant gentlemen of Ferma-
nagh, confirms the impression which the Right Hon.
Gentleman's original allusion to the affair was calculated
to convey—that he will discourage to the utmost all
" provoking and irritating demonstrations of party feel.
ing," come from whichever side they may. As on all oc-
casions in which the conduct of the Protestants of Ire-
land has been impugned, a most ridiculous hubbub ap-
pears to have been raised in regard to the indiscretion in
question. The person morally responsible for the folly
was clearly a subordinate of the High Sheriff, who, be-
tbre the excitement consequent on the election had sub-
sided, thought proper to adopt this very objectionable
mode of giving expression to his individual feeling. Why
it should have been attempted to identify this person with
the Protestant people of Ireland we have yet to learn.
COURIER.—The opposition tactics are beginning to
develop themselves, although who is to be the leader of
the Opposition is not so clearly apparent. Mr. Roebuck,
indeed, put in his claim, and took the field early on the
strength of it, by way of hint significant that he at least
would bear "no rival near the throne," much less crouch
before a superior. Lord John Russell, meanwhile, would
seemed to be dropped by common consent, as unceremo-
niously as in 1835 he was hoisted over Mr. Spring Rice,
his then leader, upon the dictation of Mr. Daniel O'Con-
nell, and in pursuance of the Lichfield House compact,
to whose purposes that gentleman was not deemed likely
to be an instrument sufficiently subservient and
obsequious. All that transpires about the late Colonial
Secretary is that his Lordship contemplates rusticating
for the present amid the sylvan shades and bowers of
some Devonshire cottage. Mr. Roebuck, however, on
the first onset has so irretrievably damaged himself by
his coarse and insolent onslaught on the editors and
proprietors of the Times Journal, for which the provo-
cation was assuredly so slight as ought only to have
evoked a passing smile from a man of mind, that it may
be doubted whether, however disposed to play the
commander-in-chief, an army can be found to follow
under his banner. The ludicrous exhibition of division
and distraction among the passengers by the Radical
dilly, on the first Radical motion this Session of Mr.
Sharman Crawford, would seem to argue but small com-
mand in the self-assuming leader, whose solemn stalking
out of the House on that occasion with Mr. Ward only
bringing up the rear, was ludicrous enough. That, how-
ever, Mr. Roebuck means mischief of some sort may be
assumed from his notice of motion for the abolitiOn of the
New Poor-law Commissariat of Somerset House, and
transference of all their rights, powers, privilegeS, and
dominion to the Homeo-ffice. It may be guessed that
the single aim, with " malice prepense and afore-
thought" of this New Poor-law manmuvre, is to endea-
vour to damage the Home-office in popular accepta-
tion by_ transferring to it, along with all other appur- '
tenancies, the mass of that unqualified odium which the
Somerset House people have contrived to accumulate
upon the present Administration of the New Poor-laws.
Whilst such is the first dawn of Radical tactics in Par-
liament, the • Whig-Radical clique, we perceive, are
showing signs of life out of it. Manchester and Leeds
represent the tail of this Whig-Radicalism, and the first-
named joint of it is at this present moment expending
the last remnant of lingering vitality in a little super-
fluous agitation about Corn-laws, by way of dying hard,
or dying game, as the ease may be. The fact is gra-
ciously commemorated in " a requisition to the Mayor
of Manchester, requesting him to call a puldic
meeting of the inhabitants of the borough, for
the purpose of considering the present distressed
state of the population of that town and neigh-
bourhood, and the propriety of memorialising
the Queen, praying her Majesty not to prorogue
the two Houses of Parliament until they have entered
upon a full consideration of the corn and provision laws,
which, in the opinion of the requisitionists, are the main
cause of the existing sufferings of the people, was drawn
up on Friday last and signed by upwards of six hundred
respectable firms in a few hours. The Mayor fixed a
public town meeting for Thursday next." Thursday I
next then is the day " big with the fate" of the three
immortal C's—Curtis, Cobden, and Corn-laws, and
q'huritlay next, too, is the eventful day fur the re-union
of ti;: Commons.
Ministers are not to have it all their
own way by j.s.stig the supplies in a hurry, shooting
the pheasants at thy_"
leisure, and coming back to give
their attention to the II:
tianal distress at their very
latest convenience. The city of Manches!er has set
an example which every large towii shpuld immediately
follow—by petitioning the Queen not th
.prorogue the
Parliament until something has been ehe:ted.' or at
least proposed, by the new Government to rein,
sufferings of the people. We all remember the pro'
ve the
fessional tone in which Sir Robert Peel refused to
prescribe " till regularly called in," and until he had
got the fee in his pocket ; but he is a pretty quack in.-
deed, if, these conditions being complied with, he coolly
tells the patient that he is going out of town for five
or six months, that he will turn the matter over in
his mind, and prescribe when he comes back again.
If the Tories, on coming into office, had no intention
of immediately bringing forward some measures of
their own, how gross an imposition must it have been
to declare that their instant installation as Ministers
was necessary for the nation's welfare ! If they are to
postpone operations for nearly half a year, their eager-
ness to get into place six months before they purpose
taking any steps on behalf of the people must have
arisen from a greediness of pay, which did not scruple
to use any delusion, however gross, in order to give
them the position by virtue of which they will obtain
their salaries. No—as we have got them, let us at
least have something for our money ; and though
the prescriptions they will offer may do the patient
no good, it is not to be permitted that they
should avoid discharge from their new functions by
abstaining from exerting them. We like the idea of the
people of Manchester, and we recommend its adoption
by all those cities in -which a necessity is felt for obtain-
ing from the Legislature an immediate measure of relief
for the necessities of those who may—for what the new
Government cares about the matter—be starved to death
before the next year's meeting of Parliament.

THE NEW MINISTRY.

The summonses for holding a Privy Council at
Windsor Castle to-day at two o'clock, were issued yes-
terday
morning.
Lord Eliot transacted business with Sir R. Peel yes-
terday morning, at his residence, in Whitehall-gardens.
Several of the Ministers also had interviews with the
Right Hon. Baronet. In the course of the morning, a
messenger was sent off with despatches for her Majesty,
at Windsor.
The French, Russian, Prussian, Austrian, and Turkish
Ambassadors, had a long interview with the Earl of
Aberdeen yesterday morning at the Foreign-office.
Sir James Graham is expected in town to-day from
Dorchester.
Lord Stanley leaves town the end of this week for
Lancashire.—Evening Paper.

THE ELECTIONS.
TAMWORTH.

TAMWORTII, SEPT. 12.—The nomination for this bo-
rough will take place at ten o'clock to-morrow (Monday)
morning. Sir Robert Peel will not attend in person.

NORTH LANCASHIRE.
The election for the northern division is fixed for the
21st inst. Lord Stanley will visit the electors at the
close of the week. There is to be no opposition to the
return of his Lordship.
SOUTHERN DIVISION Op LINCOLN.
••• •

There will be no opposition whatever to the re-elec-
tion of the Earl of Lincoln for the southern division of
this county. The electioc, however, will not take place
until about Monday, the 20th inst.

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR OF HONOUR.—Our
recent letters from Malta mention an affair of honour
which had just taken place in that island, and which
ap-
pears to have excited a great sensation hi Valetta. The
brother of a Noble Duke (Lord Sussex Lennox) arrived
in the Great Liverpool, under an assumed name, at
Malta, and having immediately waited on Major S. H.,
of the 19th Regiment, and all preliminaries having been
arranged, proceeded to fight a duel wish another mili-
tary gentleman holding a situation in the Staff of that
garrison (Captain Narcote, of the Rifle Brigade, Mili-
tary Secretary). Lord Sussex Lennox fired without
effect, and his adversary having discharged his pistol in
the' air, his Lordship was, with difficulty, induced to lis-
ten to an accommodation, the terms of which are said to
be of a somewhat singular description. This done, Lord
Sussex Lennox left the next day for England. During
the time the parties were on the ground they did not ex-
change a syllable. The circumstances in which the dis-
pute originated, together with the corresp"ndence, will,
it is further affirmed, in all probability, be published.
This affair was the one topic of conversation at Malta
when the mail came away.—United Service Gazette.
A full snipe was shot by the Rev. C. G.
Owen, on Blackdown, in the parish of Loddeswell, on
the od of September, weighing upwards of half a pound
—very nearly nine ounces.—Dev,onport Chronicle.
AN EDITORIAL GENIUS.—The New Era,
American Paper, says, "There is an Editor down
d easv t, who
is not only his own compositor, pressman, and eil, but
keeps a tavern, is a village schoolmaster, Captain in the
Militia, mends his own boots and shoes, makes patent
Brandreth pills, peddles essences and tinware two days in
the week, and always reads sermons on the Sabbath
when the minister happens to be missing. In addition
to all this, he has is wife and sixteen children." .