The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-02 00:00:00

intim

LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1847.

In reviewing the different events which have
occurred throughout the world during 1846, we
yesterday afforded sufficient testimony of the accuracy
of our assertions as to the extraordinary character of
the past twelve months. We did this, moreover,
merely by an enumeration of circumstances taking
place beyond the shores of the British islands. Our
proofs were of a cosmopolitan rather than of a na-
tional species. We glanced over the more memorable
European, Asiatic, African, and American occur-
rences, reserving those peculiarly connected with
these dominions for a separate mention. A cursory
reminiscence of what has happened during 1846 in
England and its dependencies, must agitate every
patriotic mind with anxieties and anticipations about
the possible events of 1847. We remember the
miseries which have befallen this empire during the
old year, and we dread their repetition duriLmg the
new year. We remember that during the cold year
the Parliament achieved moral victories over he evils
of centuries, and we marvel whether the session of the
new year will be illustrated by comparable pro-
ceedings. We remember that the 011 year
witnessed the disruption of parties, and we endea-
vour to c3njecture the consequences of that. disrup-
tion in the futurity of the new year. From aill these
conflicting considerations the re-assembling- of the
popular representatives and the Peers, at West sremster,
on the 19th proximo, is looked forward to with the
utmost curiosity.
Foremost among the events of 1846 were' the re-
peal of the corn-laws, and the consequent anrii hilation
of monopoly. After a toil for the realisatic a of free
trade, extending over a period which nii ght be
counted by decades, after a toil which at fi; rst pro-
mised to be interminable and fruitless, the b ton was
obtained, whereby the national commerce was invigo-
rated, and the national agriculture relieved from a
disgraceful and pernicious " Protection." Simulta-
neously with that brilliant success over the p •ejudices
of many generations, the true principles c if political
economy were engrafted upon the mercant iI e code of
England. The interests of the revenue • were not
forgotten, while the perfect freedom of ti ade was
ensured. The ignorance or the covetousn .e as of the
so-called " country party " was repaid by 'the over-
throw of their venerable fallacies, but a _respite of
three years was at the same time conceded: to them.
Then, again, the great Conservative part y was de-
stroyed—the strong Government was split tt ered into
fragments—the Peel Administration was cc a .tpelled to
resign. Many of those who during some% Jere about
a quarter of a century hail associated them: a ;Ives with
the late Premier, and who had ultimat ly, spon-
taneously, and deliberately selected him . for their
political chieftain, took the occasion of his ni able con-
version to the Free-traders- to asperse his . character
with a revengefulness, a bitterness, a fero ';y, and a
relentlessness to which the pages of lIAI is, UM fur-
nish no parallel. Because he had the cc in; rage and
magnanimity to avow the mistakes of a , long and
honourable career, and to announce, on a flour of
the House of Commons, and in the face of tl to whole
world, that, after a painful and labor is us con-
sideration of the matter, he had corn 0 to the
conclusion that Free Trade was aim le conso-
nant with the principles of Justice and the
laws of Nature, his quondam followers mal ig ned him
with an acerbity more applicable to a nit lefactor
than to a Minister of the Crown. For alter Ing his
opinion upon one question of policy, the Protec-
tionists declared that the whole life of the Premier
was odious, from his continual tergiversation. - They
asserted that his whole life was execrable at repre-
hensible from his conduct having been in v ariably
modelled upon expediency. Supposing this ass( 3= tion to
be correct, then does it recoil with redoubled is npetus
upon the very men who gave it utterance. For, if
the life of Sir ROBERT PEEL was thus odi, n Is and
thus execrable, sorry indeed must have b aE n the
character of the party who had wilfully selec it ad him
for their leader—poor must have been their c cnnbina-
tion of ability and integrity when they cot la only
discover such a man to undertake their gui dance—
most miserable, most odious, and most e. tecrable
must they have been who were so long the obs equious
followers of a man of such a shameless career! On
their own showing, the Protectionists ar e only
worthy of distrust and contumely. But Sir E I.OBERT
PEEL, when he invoked the hatred of a contet aptible
r
few,tiassured to himself the love and admiration of the
million. By his proceedings
in
signed his name to the grateful
an
dlperpetual
hars, ;,mceornn..-
brance of his fellow-countrymen, he has rend wed it
inevitable that that name will henceforth be u ttered
with expressions of gratitude "in the cottag es of
those whose lot it is to labour," he has ass timed
for ever a prominent place amongst the moss pa-
triotic and the most illustrious of the statesra en. of
England.
Another Member of the Commons' House of 1
liament has likewise, during 1846, attracted towa

himself, in a remarkable degree, the admirati

of the public. In the past year RICHARD COBDI

consummated that great struggle for commerci

emancipation with which he will ever be so honour
ably associated. In that year, also, he corn—,
m pilgrimage of civilisation through thr...
variousencd a
e states of Europe—a pilgrimage more honour--
able, if possible, than all his previous exertions. Ins
consequence of the accepttahtieonAonfti-thcn-
eofrreelatrwadLeepargiune2
ciples by the Legislature,
was dissolved. Another remarkablebad been
bassnociaaltrioeandyof:
a peculiarly popular character
namely, about the commencementean ofthelB4soci
6,deitsy- I
solved in like manner—we mean
for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. In 1846, .fi
moreover, the present Government, under the di
leadership of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, was installed ha
in office ; and from the known disposition of the dif- an
ferent members of the Administration every con-
fidence is reposH in the intentions and capacity of
that Government. In 1846 the condition of Ire-
land became more perilous than at any previous mo-
ment of her history. In 1846 a misunderstandin
first arose among the Repealers in
Conc
antaiili g
tion Hall. In 1846 the father of
the : slavery agitation, THOMAS CLARKSON died. In 1846,
the entente cordiale was ruptured. In 1846
our
quarrel with the American Government was brought
to a satisfactory conclusion. In 1846 we had first a
positive Ministerial promise of those sanatory and
educational measures which had been so long and so
ardently desired. Such have been the most con-
spicuous events of the bygone twelvemonth, such have
been the advantages realised, the evils avoided, the
calamities experienced during that memorable inter-