The Sun.
London, England, 1823-01-02 00:00:00

[HORNING CHRONICLE.]

We feel no disposition to enter at present into
any_ farther discussion on the prospects afforded
by the changes in the French Ministry. We have

'already expressed our sentiments fully on this
subject, and we do not wish to repeat them. The
Constitutionnel contains an interesting article from
Corfu, detailing the recent military operations in
Epirus. We are sorry to see from it that our country-
men are accused of having engaged in intrigues to
foment, divisions among the Greeks,and still more
sorry to he obliged to own our belief in the truth of
the accusation. In an article from Frankfort, on
the affairs of Greece, the Christianity of Mr.
Canning is complimented at the expence of that
of his predecessor. We would fain believe that
a change has taken place in the views, of our Ca-
binet with respect to the Greeks, and that our
plan of opposition to Russian ambition does not
exclude the protection of this interesting people.
We have our doubts, however, how far Chris-
tianity has operated any change which may
have taken place in either Mr. Canning
or his brethren in favour of the Greeks, be-
cause we cannot see how men possessed of the
slightest respect for Christianity could support so
'long its most inveterate enemies in a horrible
attempt to exterminate a large population, merely
because it was'a Christian one, and sighed for a
Christian protection from cruelty and lawless
violence.: But Christianity, according to, the
Ministerial acceptation, means, we suppose,
merely a love for rich Ecclesiastical Establish-
' meats ; and, as the Turks are the Tithe-holders,
they may owe their favour here to that endearing
circumstance.

• [swum ND HERALD.]
Letters and Journals of the 30th arrived yes-
terday from Paris. It would appear that the
public mind was not yet made up as to what pre-
cise construction to put upon the change in the
Cabinet and the Note of M. de Villole. The opi-
nions are different. We see no reason, however,
to doubt the decidedly pacific character of this
transaction. Liberals are not satisfied with the

note, or with the. new Minister. They can,
discover but a light shade of difference be-
tween MM. de Montmorency and Chateaubriand.
There may be but a shade—yet this shade might
satisfactorily justify the expectation that the
policy of the latter will be essentially diffeeent.
The late Minister was a man, acknowledged
much his inferior in capacity—and moreover,
devout even to zealotism. Such a person would
naturally see, in the restriction of the Papal,
and extinction of the inquisitionary power—in
the secularizing of monks, and the subjecting
the Clergy to the lay jurisdiction of the State—
the destruction of all religion—or what such
people dread and abhor infinitely more—that
independence of judgment, which they call he-
resy. M. 'de Chateaubriand is also a zealous
defender of religion—which he has advocated'
with a pparently earnest sincerity, in a well-known
work, the declamatory taste of which is redeemed
by its eloquence. lle is, at the same time, a man
of the world, having a much wider range of pub-
lic affairs, and of general knowledge than- his
predecessor. It is therefore not unreasonable
to expect that he may stop short, where M. de
Montmorency would rush on with precipitate
zeal. It appears to us as if the Liberals of Paris
expeiited' too' much. We have particularly in
our contemplation an article in the COyrkr Fran..
MS, which will be found among our extracts.
, •
I he writer appears much too exacting—he would,
from the Note of M. de Villele, specifically, or
from new introductions to the French Cabinet,
virtually, have an abandonment of all inten-
lion to 'interfere in the Spanish Revolution. This
would be so sudden and violent a change of coun.

sels,, that it would be absurd under the present
circumstances to hope for it. All, it is said, that
the recent transaction tells the public is, that the
present is an inconvenient season to interfere.
We should regard this as a decidedly pacific
manifestation.

PROVINCIAL JOURNALS.

(Ft ant the Bury Gazettc qf Jau. 1, 1023. )

By a close calculation, the political state of the House of
Commons is said to be as follows Out of the 058 Mem.
becs, 37 have given no votes for some time past, and cannot
therefore be accurately known.--The 621 Members remaining
may be diiided into three classes—Members constantly
up-
porting Ministers-51=1)m constantly opposing Ministers
arta Members voting occasionally on either side, so that nei-
ther can calculate upon them. Of the first class, or Ministerial
Members, there are only 205—0 f these, 41 sit tot Counties,
85 for Borough'', containing more than 100. voters—and
seventy-nine for Boroughs, containing less than 100 voters.
In the Opposition class, there are 221 Membera. Of these,
59 sit "for Counties—ll 9 for Boroughs. ckceeding one hun-
dred voters ; and: forty-three for -smaller Boroughs.—
The neutral class consists of 195 Members-69 of these are
County Members—. 79, sit for. larger Boroughs, and 48 for
smaller ones. It is, therefore obvious, that as the Ministry
have, of staunch partisans, less by 16 than the Opposition, they
mire their majorities and their continuance in office entirely to
those neutral Members who, generally supporting them, still
vote against them whenever they think fit.- On Lord Trivia-
tock's motion, for instance, in MI, which went to a direct cen-
sure of Ministers, the majority in their favour was 140. In
this number there were 116 Members, who, on other occasions,
showed their independence by voting against Ministers. Had
only 70 of that number declared in favour of the motion,: a
change must have been the immediate consamence."
For the authenticity of the above statement we do not pm.
tend to vouch. It is probably not far from the truth, and we
quote it with great satisfaction ; for a more honourable testi-
mony to the high estimation in which Ministers are held by
the really independent part of
,the country could not be asked,
or hoped for by their most zealous partizans. It appears from.
this precious document, intended to be a manifesto of radi-
calism, that all the patronage of government is 'not able to se.
cure it , the support of so many thick and thin, right or wrong,
members as are to be found in the ranks of Opposition ; in
short, that what reformers call the corrupt influence of Mini.
sters does not balance, by sixteen votes, what; we will call the
corrupt influence of faction. For however notorious it may be,
that there am Members of , Parliament returned for various
places-through the interest of individuals attached to the pre:
sent views of men in power, it is at least equally notorious Allot
there are to be found in the phalanx of reform; graceless Dukes,
Ignoble Marquesses,' and dishonorable Lords, who, whilst
they rail at undue influence, live in the hotirly practice of it.
No matter by what means the numbers are obtained, it is suf.
ficent for our present purpose to knew that there are in the

Rouse two hundred and twenty-one members, who will always
vote against Ministers upon all occasions, " right or wrong,"
and that all the means Ministers are supposed to have of sway-
ing the human mind has only procured for them two hundred
and flve certain voices, their own included. If the House of
Commons were merely an arena for two rival factions, upon
this showing, it would appear that there is a much larger por.
tion of corruption on the Opposition than on the Ministerial
benches; for it is as great a proof of corruptness to oppose a
measure from prejudice as to support it from interest; and it is
far more criminal to thwart the necessary proceedings of Govern-
meat, in order to indulge the bad passions of, the heart,
them to aid the fuitherance of a Minister's views, in requital
tor past benefits or hope of future advantage. Both practices
are indefensible ; but one is a venial error . common to all the
sons of men—the other, an incontrovertible evidence of an Inhe-
rent baseness. It is also obvious from this report, •if true, that
Ministers do not squander the public money quite so prodigaiZy
in corrupting Parliament as their adversaries give them credit
for. They have not, it appears, even thrown in a sufficient
portion of the alkali of influence to neutr alise the acid 'of sedi-
tion. With millions at their disposal, with which they might
buy, voices, and patriots opposed to them anxiously wait.
ing to be bought, they behold their adversaries' partizans out-
numbering theirs, without a single effort to avail them-
selves of any of the marketable commodities which are known
to be upon sale; they sit and hear themselves slandered by
those men, thecondition of whose return is unvarying opposi-
tion ; and, whilst the storm of hackney patriotism ragettround
them, whilst hireling orators are barking to be bid for, they
" Seem to think, though millions they can raise,
A mite too much to squander for their praise ;
A farthing, by instalments paid, profuse ;
Nay, worse than waste, to silence their abuse."

To what are we to attribute this apparent supincss, thicinsensi-
bility to assault? Simply to the fact, that there are in the House
" one hundred and ninety-five members," whose support Mi.
nisters cannot hope for, if they :do .wrong, but whose sea.
lons cd-operation they are assured of in every measure
likely to promote the genera! weal. These are the men who,
by their vote upon the motion of Lord Tavistock, declared the
Ministry efficient. These are the men who, unconnected with
office, maintain the dignity and independence of Parliament by
conscientioumipport of the measures of government, and a
determination to defend the country from the unconstitutional
domination of any party but above all to secure it from the
deadly curse of a medern Whig administration.
Stich appears to us the common sense view of the facts con.
tained in the foregoing statement, which although ushered into
the world to blazon the strength of a faction, proves too much
for its own purpose, and cannot fail to open the eyes of reasona-
ble men to the very important truth, that the measures of Mi-
nisters can only be carried wide the concurrence of as indepen-
dent and honourable a House of COmmons as the annals of
ParliaMent can furnish a parallel to.