The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-29 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1847.

Sir JOHN PAKINGTON deserves the encouragement,
and his proceedings demand the commendation of every
right-thinking man in the United Kingdom. His
conduct in-introducing a measure for the speedier
conviction and more effectual reformation of juvenile
offenders is befitting the liberal and generous system
of legislation which has been latterly adopted by
Parliament. We are not less amazed than we are
grieved and indignant at the vexatious opposition
raised against this humane and most rational Bill
yesterday evening. We stigmatise this opposition,
advisedly, as vexatious. With all possible respect
for the convictions of those Honourable Gentlemen
who endeavoured to prevent the second reading, we
cannot but regard their conduct with sorrow and
suspicion. We would allude, however, less to these
vexatious oppositionists than to the arguments raised
against the proposal of Sir Joust PAKINGTON by Mr.
ROEBUCK, and we would allude to these in a manner
very far removed from acerbity. However conge-
nial might be the indulgence of an acrimonious dis-
position in regard to the language uttered by the
Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Member for Bath
in reference to the provincial magistracy, we are in
no way disposed to consider the justice of his obser-
vations otherwise than with the most unruffled calm-
Mr. ROEBUCK objects to the summary
conviction and incarceration of juvenile reprobates,
because the jurisdiction might fall into the hands
of a fox-hunting justice ! Has the Honourable and
Learned Gentleman been recently perusing the carica-
tures in "Tom Jones " and "Barnaby Rudge ?" We
can only attribute this excessive horror against fox-
hunting justices to the fact of the Representative of
Bath having been inoculated with the sarcasms of
FIELDING and DICKENS. It cannot be supposed for
an instant that we are influenced by any sympathy
whatever with the "great unpaid;" we are familiar
enough with the ignorance, the immorality, and the
want of all legal information which may be discerned
among the gentlemen who adjudicate upon
local offences in the provinces. We know
perfectly well that the magistracy is by no means
immaculate, by no means remarkable for frugality,
by no means untainted by the vices and immoralities
fashionable in what is called civilised life ; but what
we are compelled to object to in the speech of Mr.
ROEBUCK, is the sweeping manner in which he
stigmatises an entire class. For, notwithstanding
his subsequent repudiation of such an intention, it
is evident, from the words articulated by the .Mem-
ber for Bath, that the whole tribe of country magis-
trates were implied in his original observations.
Although we possess but little sympathy with
many of the local justices individually, we regard
them nevertheless, as a body, with some little respect.
A. " fox-hunting justice" is a fine cant expression of
scorn ; when employed in personal vituperations
upon the magistracy, it has been known to be
most effective. But the phrase is by no means
the core of a self-evident proposition : it is
by no means the symbol of any recognised
principle either in mathematics, or trigonometry, or
natural history, or jurisprudence. The words, when
employed as the fly-wheel of an argument, are
nothing less than vulgar abuse. They are anything
but logical, and certainly can never be classed among
the recognised graces of rhetoric. It must first be
proved that fox-hunting necessarily brutalizes the
disposition and clouds the understanding before a
fox•hunting justice can be regarded by any sensible
thinker as implying the moral and mental de-
gradation of the individual so designated. But
we have not the patience—we candidly ac••
knowledge it—we have not the patience to weigh
the eccentric epithets uttered in Parliament
or elsewhere, when a principle like that of the
Juvenile Offenders' 13ill is at stake. When Sir
EAEDLEY WILMOT, as far back as 1840, introduced a
measure of a nearly precisely similar character,
when, moreover, Sir JOHN (now Lord) CAMPBELL,
the then Attorney-General, declared that the prin-
ciple of that measure was wholly unobjectionable—
that principle being "that a child charged with felony
should not be compelled to hold up his hand, and be
arraigned at the bar as a common felon !"—it is surely
monstrous, it is surely absurd and indelicate
to object to the second reading of Sir JOHN
PAKINGTON'S Bill in 1847, because that prin-
ciple would thereby be carried into effect, because
these wretched children will be saved from the chance
of being arraigned at the bar as common felons, be-
cause they might by possibility become the victims
of a Fox-HUNTING JUSTICE! A young Member of
the House of Commons will know henceforth the
readiest means of becoming a statesman. Let him
study a certain chapter in BUFFON, and commit to
memory the five acts of Volpone, and then go
down, well crammed, to the Chapel of St. Stephen
and legislate.

ness.

Nothing is more difficult than to get people to re-
sign long-established usages, even after it has been
proved that their continuance is prejudicial to the
public welfare. There is certainly this advantage
derivable from the pertinacious adherence with
which nations cling to ancient habits, that
they are not abandoned without a thorough

investigation into their defects, or without its
being made abundantly clear that those which
it may be proposed to substitute for them are
far superior in every respect. Public prejudices are
not, therefore, to be contemned, seeing that they
are frequently preventive of rash and precipitate
changes. Still it is singular to consider the length
of time we have refrained from altering our system of
coinage in favour of the decimal principle. Had
the question been more prominently brought under
L the notice of the public than it has, this alteration
would have been long since adopted. Two and twenty
years ago the subject was brought under the considera-
tion of Parliament; a Commission was appointed
on weights and measures in 1842, but beyond the
publication of its " report," nothing was effected. It
recommended, however, inter alia, the pound as the
primary unit, and the coining of a two-shilling piece,
a copper coin, the tenth of the two-shilling niece, and
another the tenth of the latter. The night before
last Dr. BOWRING moved, in the house of Commons,
that the adoption of a decimal system of coinage cur-
rency and account would be a great public conve-
nience. The Chancellor the Exchequer freely ad-
mitted the advantages of the system urged upon his
attention by the Hon. Member for Bolton ; but, in
deference to the prejudices which he considered still
prevailed with the community at large in favour of
the ancient coinage of the country, he conceived that
the change should be gradually wrought. With this
view, he had no objection to recommend that a two-
shilling piece should he immediately struck. Upon
this intimation Dr. BowniNG withdrew his motion.
A, great step has thus been gained in a matter which
is o f
Staves greater importance in this nation, on account of
tiineeveasotbrtaaninged, e of its trade and commerce, than in the
several
where the decimal system has long
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eav ti
been rendered habitually conversant with
money, tha establishment of decimal weights
measures will naturally follow. In the civilised
i
world the coinage of England is the single exception
to the decimal system. In France, Belgium and
Holland, Naples, Rome, Sicily, Russia, China,
Grecce, the United States, Mexico, Turkey, Persia,
&c., the numerical principle of the coinage, and the
method of keeping accounts, is decimal. Considering

the extent of our commercial transactions with all
quarters of the globe, the advantages of notation, and
of conducting monetary exchanges upon a uniform
principle, would be a great boon to the English
merchant. Of this opinion is Lord ASHBURTON, than
whom, perhaps, no one is better able to form a correct
judgment on a question of this nature.

The present year is already singularly fraught
with vast political movements which augur favour-
ably for the progress of popular influence amongst
some of the European states. In Prussia a grand
step has been taken by an enlightened monarch in
furtherance of constitutional government, which,
though it was long expected, will, nevertheless, from
the mode in which it has been initiated, always
secure for FREDERICK WILHELM IV. the admiration
and gratitude of the present and future generations.
Such a voluntary act on the part of an absolute
sovereign, such a kingly concession at a moment
when profound peace reigned in his dominions,
such a splendid and graceful tribute to the moderation
and loyalty of his subjects, is without its parallel in
history. For the sake and value of the noble example
which the King of PRUSSIA has herein set to those
in whose hands the sceptre may hereafter be placed,
to be swayed in other portions of the civilised
world, we sincerely trust that the firm re-
liance which he has evinced in the wisdom
and allegiance of his people will be fully justified by
the legislative conduct of the United Diet; and from
the manner in which its members have already
entered upon their solemn functions our aspirations
are not likely to be disappointed. If we turn our
eyes to Spain and Portugal, we observe a very different
state of things. In both of these kingdoms the cause
of popular government is discernible as being pro-
gressive, but only as making its way through the fiery
ordeal of intestinal commotions and national con-
vulsions, to which every country must be sub-
ject wherever despotism attempts to retain its
grasp beyond the period when the enlighten-
ment of the people justifies their being emanci-
pated from its thraldom. Spain has just
succeeded in throwing off a vast incubus of
tyranny, corruption, and foul intrigue, and her
youthful QUEEN is manifesting the most ardent de•
sire to acquire and to retain the love of her
subjects. To restore to her people the rights
of the Constitution wrested from them at
the period of ESPARTERO'S downfal, is appa-
rently the patriotic aim which Queen ISABELLA
and her present Ministry have in view to effect
at the earliest possible moment. In Portugal,
on the other hand, we observe a youthful QUEEN who
has been struggling to deprive her people of their
, constitutional liberties. The consequence is that she
has alienated the affections of her subjects ; that the
horrors of civil war have infested her dominions, and
that she has only been saved from absolute defeat,
which would have subjected her to the degradation of
imprisonment, or the disgrace of compulsory ex-
patriation, by the joint remonstrances of England,
France, and Spain against her insane policy. But
for the timely presence of British ships of war and
marines, Lisbon at this moment would, in
all probability, have been in the possession
of the Junta. As it is, we collect from
the most recent advices from the Peninsula
that MARIA DA GLORIA has consented to the terms
of arrangement proposed to be carried out by the
mediation of our Government between that of Por-
tugal and the insurgents.
These conditions involve the necessity of proclaim-
ing an amnesty, forming a moderate Ministry, and
convoking the Cortes, all of which will be regarded
with triumphant feelings by Das ANTAS and his
patriotic coadjutors. Such are in chief the remark-
able phases of European politics of the year eighteen
hundred and forty-seven.

The Prussian States Gazette, of the 24th, gives an
account of the food riots which had occurred in
Berlin on the preceding day :
" Tumultuous assemblages were formed in different quarters
of the city, and the rioters proceeded to visit the different
bakers' shops to demand bread. The multitude formed so
quickly, and attacked the bakers' shops so suddenly, that
they succeeded in their object. During the afternoon the
city was patrolled by detachments of troops, who succeeded
in arresting the progress of the disturbances, without any
resistance having been offered except in two quarters,—nor
were the military compelled to use their arms. 175 persons
were arrested."

On the 23d the Second Order of the States re-
ceived communication of the reply of the KING to
the Address presented to his MAJESTY by the eight
Marshals on the 21st. The KING thanked the Diet
for their frank and loyal conduct, and promised to
convoke them again in four years. The reply was
read by M. DE Rocfrow, and several Deputies re-
ported that the ICING had said that he would convene
the Assembly of the States every four years. The
royal answer was to be communicated on the 24th to
the Order of Lords.

Madrid papers of the 22d have arrived.
On the 21st NARVAEZ communicated to the Senate
that, having accepted the office of Ambassador to
France, he should be obliged, for a time, to absent
himself from their sittings.

The Marquis DE ESPANA was the Spanish officer
who accompanied Colonel FITCH to the head-quarters
of SA DA BANDEIRA. It is said that the Duke DE
SAN LORENZO will be appointed Commandant of the
Ilalberdiers.

MADRID BOLSA, APRIL 22.—The Three per Cents.
were done at 311 for cash ; the Five per Cents. at
191 ; the Debt without Interest at 51 ; and the
Coupons at 16.

We have received the Paris papers of Tuesday.
Several petitions were presented on Monday to
the Chamber of Deputies, praying for the immediate
abolition of slavery in the French colonies. A dis-
cussion of considerable interest ensued, in the course
of which M. LEDRU ROLLIN related facts, " which,"
says La Presse, " if true, would make the blood run
cold, but the horrid details of which cause them
to be suspected." This speech created such a sensa-
tion, that notwithstanding the Minister of Marine
undertook the defence of the planters, and depre-
cated the interference of the Chamber, the petitions
were ordered to be referred to the Minister. The
Presse says—

" This is a check not only for the Minister of Marine, but
for the whole Cabinet, as M. Guizot not long since had
expressed an opinion that a vote of this kind could only
render more difficult the execution of the Bill of 1845,
and trammel the work of progressive emancipation. It
was said that to refer the petitions would not imply the
sanction of all the prayers contained in them, but only of
some. These distinctions will not probably be compre-
hended in the colonies, either by the slaves or masters.
One party will behold in the vote a herald of liberty,
and the other a new advance in that policy which agitates
everything, without coming to any real conclusion. We
hope we may be mistaken, but we fear that flout the deci-
sion of yesterday may arise disquietudes and complications
for every party."

The National and the Constitutionnel also comment
on this remarkable debate, and while acknowledging
the difficulties in the way of immediate emancipation,
admit that M. LEDRU ROLLIN has made out his case,
that the task of exculpating the Colonial authorities
and the colonists is too difficult, and that something
must be done to put a stop to these horrors. As a
proof of the cruelties practised on the unfortunate
slaves in the French colonies, we may remark that
the Constitutionnel gives credit to the Minister of
Marine for the great humanity he has exhibited, by
recently issuing an ordonnance forbidding the flogging
of pregnant females. Other females, therefore, are
still subject to the lash.

The newly-appointed Ambassador to the Court of
St. James's, the Due DL BROGLIE, is to leave Paris
for London in the course of a few days. The Count
DE JARNAC retires from the post of Chief Secretary to
the Embassy, and is to be succeeded by the
Prince DE BROGLIE, the eldest son of the Am-
bassador. The removal of M. DE JARNAC, who
has long been in the habit of communicating
directly with the Tuileries and with the Hotel des
Affaires Etrangeres, was insisted on by the Duc DL
BROGLIE aS an indispensable condition of his accept-
ance of office, as he was desirous of being the sole
representative of France in London, and of having
alone the right of communicating directly with the
Cabinet.

The Committee of the Chamber of Deputies,
appointed to report on the Greek Loan Bill, have
given their unqualified approbation to the general
policy of the Ministers with regard to Greece. The
most pressing orders have been sent to Toulon to
accelerate, as
the ships of war destined to join the squadron under
much as possible, the departure of
the command of the Prince DE JunivlLLE. The
squadron will probably sail on the 10th May. Its
destination is at present unknown.