The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-01 00:00:00

TILE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY

men will consider with extreme jealousy the question
whether Ministers are justified in taking- what is
described by the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs "as an exceptional course." Portugal is our
most ancient ally, and the force of circumstances
should be strong indeed to overcome the natural re-
luctance with which this country would view any vio-
lent intervention, on our part, in the civil affairs of Por-
tugal. Taken alone, the protocol does not appear to us
to justify the present proceedings ; but when the same
shall come to be regarded in connexion with the other
papers, which are to be laid before Parliament with all
possible dispatch, this impression may be completely
varied.

Of this the Premier is thoroughly convinced. Lord
JOHN RUSSELL observed last night, that " the more
the case was known and the better the facts were as-
certained, the better the stand on which her MA-
JESTY's Government had to rely, and he also ex-
pressed his hope that the House would not come to
any opinion on this subject without knowing, not only
what had taken place between the Queen of POR-
TUGAL and her subjects, but also what had taken
place in reference to the appeals which had been made
by the QUEEN to other powers, and the offers of other
powers to interfere in the affairs of Portugal—without
knowing, in short, the whole history of those trans-
actions." All must concur in the reasonableness of
these remarks. This interesting subject will probably
come under discussion on Friday next.

The Poor Relief Bill (Ireland) has at length
passed both Houses. The Commons have accepted
it, as altered by the Lords, with some slight excep-
tions, and have even consented to waive their acknow-
ledged and highly-prized privilege sooner than risk
the safety of a measure of such vital importance to
our starving brethren in the sister kingdom, and to
our own over-taxed and over-burdened countrymen,
who readily consented to support from the profits of
their toils and labours those who were still more
destitute than themselves, and who had no legislative
title to a maintenance from the land of their birth.
It may be considered by many that the representa-
tives of the people were wrong in giving way, even
in the most trifling degree, on a point in which they
were supported by the entire sympathies of the
country, in for a moment permitting their most
valued privilege—that privilege to which they owe
their real power and supremacy—to be interfered with.
It is quite manifest that the opinion of the House is
in accordance with that of the public, and in opposi-
tion to the amendment by which the area of taxation
was altered. Every one whose opinion carried with
it the slightest weight protested against the change,
and the clearest indications were afforded that the
landlords, for whose especial benefit the substitution
was effected, will have only a temporary triumph to
boast of, that one of the earliest acts of the ensuing
session will be to provide a remedy for the mischiefs
and grievances occasioned by the present statute, and
which, ere that period, will be fully apparent. The
proposition originally brought forward in the vain
hope of conciliating the landlord party did not afford
sufficient protection for the people. The temptation
held out for the clearance system, and the power to
carry it into execution, was far too great, even
before the Lords had further impaired the efficiency
of the measure. By the iniquitous " quarter acre'
clause the proprietors of the soil were enabled
to drive the cottiers from their wretched
tenements. By withholding and inducing the
neighbouring squires to withhold employment)
they could force the industrious and able-
bodied pauper to apply for assistance, and he should
surrender his holding before he could obtain the neces-
sary relief. That aid for which he was forced to bar-
ter the only spot he could call his own was not of a
permanent character—it could only be granted for
a limited time, when certain preliminaries had been
complied with, and on its cessation he would
be forced to seek refuge in the neighbouring towns
and villages, and thus add to the mass of pauperism,
of want, and disease, by which they are crowded.
The means are thus given to effect clearances, while
the temptation to do so is increased by the fact that,
in a certain fixed time, the district from which the
paupers have been removed will be freed from all
liability as to their future support. What will be the
result we leave those best acquainted with Irish land-
lords to pronounce. We feel confident that before
the next session of Parliament scenes will be enacted
of the most heartrending description, a frightful
quantity of individual misery will be occasioned. The
burden of supporting the destitute poor, which, under
any circumstances must be sufficiently onerous, will be
greatly increased. The owners of land in many
parts of the country will be enabled, for a few months
longer, to evade a portion of their duty ; while the
inhabitants of towns, unable to discharge the rates
assessed upon them, will be compelled again to seek
assistance from the national purse. That assistance
will be granted at a cost of a few additional millions,
and then, at length, a measure will be brought for-
ward of a much more stringent character, which
will cause the landowners to regret the temporary
success of their intrigues and exertions in the Lords
to weaken and impair the Bill sent up from the
Lower House.

In another part of this day's paper will be found
an interesting account of the election of annuitants on
the BENEVOLENT FUND of the PROVIDENT CLERKS'
ASSOCIATION, which took place yesterday, at the
London Tavern. We have often recorded the pro-
ceedings of this excellent association, and feel that on
each occasion we are called upon to increase our
meed of praise, because daily experience proves that
the more the advantages of this society are known the
more they must be appreciated, and that the board of
managers do not content themselves with mere empty
promises, but use their utmost energies to carry
into full effect the powers with which
they are invested. As we predicted, the
Provident Clerks' Association, from its constitution
and the men who are at the helm of affairs, must
make headway, and become one of the first associa-
tions in this great commercial country ; so, we are
happy to say, that we have not been wrong in our
prognostication, the advances in public favour, the
great accession of members, the manner in which its
benefits are dispensed (at once liberally, and without
any ostentation, the regard paid to the feelings of
the recipients—we allude particularly to the fact
of initials, not names in full, being given),
cannot fail to at once command the well wishes
and approval of all who desire to be prudent
and raise the national standard of moral, physical,
and social advantage. Our report of yesterday's pro-
ceedings will be read with much interest.

- -
The Augsburgh Gazette has the following, dated
Constantinople, 14th inst. :
" The official journal of yesterday announces that the
Greek Cabinet has at length determined to yield, and
that M. Coletti, after having received from M. Persiani
a communication of the last note from the Russian
Cabinet, promised him not to throw any further obstacle
in the way of the settlement of the differences between
the two countries. The Emperor has learned with
regret the offence which has been given to the Turkish
representative ; he approves the conduct of M. Mussu-
rus, and blames that of M. Coletti. The Greek Cabinet
ought at once, by a frank explanation, to give the satis-
faction demanded by the Porte, and not complicate the
affair in a manner injurious to the dignity of King Otho.
M. Coletti, adds the Emperor in the note, instead of
adding any difficulty to the foreign relations of Greece,
would du better to apply himself to remedying the evils
of the country by a better administration of affairs. The
Czar approves the conduct of his representatives in Tur
key and in Greece, and gives instruction to them to
press the Greek Cabinet to give without delay the re-
quired satisfaction to the Porte, as the only means of
putting an end to the existing state of things."

Madrid papers of the 25th ult. have arrived.
The QUEEN arrived in Madrid on the 24th, from
Aranjuez. The KING continues at the Prado.
Rumours were circulated of another Ministerial
crisis. The Duke of SOTOMAYOR or the Marquis of
MIRAFLORES were spoken of as the probable chiefs of
the new Cabinet. Senor OLOZAGA, on his last inter-
view, had, it is said, been coldly received by the
QUEEN.

Dispatches had been received announcing the con-
clusion of the treaty for the pacification of Portugal,
and General MANUEL CONCHA left Madrid on the
25th for Zamora, to take command of the army. He
had orders, it is believed, to enter Portugal.

MADRID BOLSA, MAY 25.—The Three per Cents. were
dale at 29% for cash ; the Four per Cents. at 18%; the
Five per Cents. at 18%; the Debt without Interest at 5%;
and the c4Ppons at 16.

We have received the Paris papers of Sunday.
• It is considered that the Ministers will be compelled
at last to resort to a loan to cover the deficit.