The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-05 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1847

Upon the advisability of affording encouragement
to the formation of railways in Ireland there is no
dissentience whatever. Men of every shade of poli-
tical opinion are unanimous on this point. If there
were a comparable unison of thought upon the other
schemes for the regeueration of Ireland, the trepida-
tion of the starving peasantry as to their future con-
dition would be marvellously abated. A desire has
long been entertained throughout the United King-
dom to witness the introduction of the railway system
on a comprehensive scale into the different counties
of the sister island. We ourselves have advocated
the construction of lines there, and more especially
in the localities likely to afford additional outlets and
inlets to foreign speculation. The Government has
repeatedly avowed its acquiescence in the arguments
advanced in favour of this gigantic innovation ; and
from the highest to the lowest, from the most nervous
to the most reckless, from the most enthusiastic Free-
trader to the most purblind Protectionist, from the
First Lord of the Treasury to the Leaders of the Op-
position, the advantages certain to accrue to Ireland
from this systematic introduction of railways have
been recognised and, in some manner or other,
expressed.

Persuaded, doubtless because steam power is the
great instrument of civilization in this age, that
therefore its influence upon an impoverished and de-
based multitude should be fostered by the Legisla-
ture, Lord GEORGE BENTINCE has laid before Parlia-
ment a Bill for the application of this vast instrument
to the ills and necessities of Ireland. We are fully
prepared to accord to the Noble Lord the Member
for Lynn those commendations, as to his patriotic
motives, uttered by the Prime Minister. We
will even go so far as to confess that the proposition
of Lord GEORGE was produced with many felicitous
embellishments, and that the scheme, upon the merits
of which the Noble Lord was peculiarly verbose, had
evidently been compiled with no little industry.
Those embellishments, however, were in truth so
air-blown and frivolous, that they irresistibly asso-
ciated the Noble Lord in our mind with those "little
wanton boys that swim on bladders," mentioned by
SUAK3PERE. They only sustain Lord G. BENTINCK
upon the surface of his argument for an instant—they
are pierced by the most casual remark of the Premier
—and the consequence is, the utter downfall of the
Noble Lord's proposals and of his logic into the
bargain.
To strip away all the blossoms and leaves of the
speech delivered last night in the Lower House, '
what, in point of fact, is the bare stalk of the pro-
position ? Why, it is literally this—that Government
should perform an act of unparalleled munificence to
one portion of the empire, to the detriment and drain-
age of the rest—that within the next four years
sixteen millions of money should be advanced from
the revenue for the construction of certain lines of
railroad in Ireland. But that the miseries which
this plan is intended to diminish are of so terrible a
character, and that the recommendation is given with
a credulous and benevolent seriousness, we should be
almost tempted to smile at an idea so extravagant and
Quixotic. Granted that railways are calculated to
enhance the comforts and extend the prosperity of a
country ; granted that Ireland is peculiarly well
situated for the development of her re-
sources by a rapid mode of locomotion; that
her millions would obtain profitable employment,
that her agriculturists would be stimulated to fresh
exertions, that her manufacturing industry would be
awakened, that her merchants would be excited to
greater enterprise, that the commerce of the old and
new world would be diverted from many of its
ancient channels, and would flow through the land,
fructifying and enriching it in its progress—
granted all this ; but we still submit it
to any candid man whether the scheme pro-

posed by the Noble Lord the representative of
Lynn be either practicable or sane. By carrying
that scheme into effect what would be the inevitable
consequences ? All individual enterprise in Irish
railways would be infallibly destroyed—an enormous
drain would come upon the Exchequer, and through

that upon the pockets of the English people
—the food of the indigent labourers of Devonshire
would be indirectly stinted to fatten the miscellaneous
" navies" of Connaught—the labours of husbandry
would be materially interfered with at the very
moment when they have become most essential—the
Irish would be, more than ever, the paupers and
dependents of the empire—the efforts of the
landlords would be wonderfully diminished—

and beyond all, under the apparent guise of genero-
sity towards Ireland, the whole unemployed vaga-
bondage of the kingdom would be allured to the
sister island to fatten upon the rich dainties showered

upon
ment,

the country by the Legislature. In an argu-
published in the last number of Tait's Maga-
Mr. Jour/ O'CONNELL maintains that a
multitude of labourers would flock from

zinc,
vast

England and Scotland on the carrying out of the

plans for the reclamation of waste lands in Ireland,

Supposing this anticipation to be correct, how much
inure probable is the immigration of multitudes to
Ireland on the bringing of such an arrangement as
that of Lord G. BVITINCK into operation ! In ex-

pressing his disinclination to uphold the proposals of
_ _

his Noble Friend the Member for Lynn, Lord JOHN

RUSSELL spoke with a circumspection, a lenity, and a
wisdom befitting the Minister of this great empire.
He saw at once that the virtual effect of that proposal
would be another way of complicating present diffi-

culties, of affording fresh multitudes the alms of out-
door assistance, and of employing a whole nation in
something tantamount to oakum-picking.

We took occasion last week to invite the attention
of our readers to the almost exhausted condition to
which the once flourishing and profitable British
whale fisheries have been reduced, and alluded to
the scheme which has been propounded by Mr. EN-DERBY for resuscitating this valuable trade in all its
pristine strength. Whilst we lamented over the de-
cline which this important branch of maritime com-
merce has, for many years past, suffered, in conse-
quence of the misdirected efforts of our merchants,
we, at the same time, observed upon the far different
results which had flowed from American enterprise,rent
so that, at this moment, they have not less than
20,000 seamen employed in their various whaling
expedtion 5. As we have before renzarked, the causes
ia

of the rapid diminution of the British trade have been
indicated with ability by Mr. ENDERBY in his well-
digested pamphlet upon this subject. Apart from this
gentleman's great experience in everything connected
with cetaceous fisheries, we have a somewhat sub-
stantial proof of his competency to form a sound
judgment as to the best mode in which we may re-
sume our superiority in the whaling trade, in the
fact, that the Government have granted to him
and his brothers the Auckland Lies, com-
prising 100,000 acres, which are considered
to be admirably adapted as a central depot
for reviving and extending our commerce in whales.
One reason why this trade has been found to be so
precarious as to damp the energies of enterprising
capitalists is the disposition of the whale to migrate.
The monarch of the sea is wild and shy in its na-
ture, and, when disturbed in its accustomed haunts,
resorts to distant localities to avoid human pursuit.
Hence it has been ascertained that the efforts of pri-
vate individuals are inadequate for the successful pro-
secution of the trade, in consequence of the number
'of ships requisite to visit the different quarters fre-
quented by the whale, in order that an unprofitable
cruise in one direction may be counterbalanced by a
successful one in another. A system of averages is
the keystone to the stability of this, as of every other
species of trade.

But, setting aside these, and the like interesting
aliments of reflection, and also the national import-
ance of rearing nurseries for hardy mariners, on which
we have formerly expatiated, there are other consi-
derations of incidental and essential interest, which
ought to claim an undivided attention. Of these,
colonisation is one, and the morality of the intrepid
seaman is another. Touching the former, it
is obvious that, with the redundant popula-
tion we possess, we cannot do better than
to stimulate emigration to every part of the world
where new and prosperous channels of trade can be
legitimately opened. The reciprocal ;benefits which
are felt by the new settlements and the mother-coun-
try, wherever emigration has been judiciously encou-
raged, are too notorious to require more than a
cursory observation.

In regard to the other topic, the moral character of
the mariner, it is a painful truth that nothing can be
more demoralized than the general condition of the
whaling crews. Constantly upon the seas, and at im-
measurable distances from their native land, they are
bereft of every feeling of patriotism, and are as easily
susceptible of being profitably hired to engage in
hostilities against their own country, as they are of
being employed to defend it. They may he said to
be without a home. Their entire lives are consumed
without being sweetened by any domestic or endear-
ing ties, which tend to develope the best affections
and elevate the character of man. Whereas, if a
maritime homestead, as it were, were created for
them in the South Pacific Ocean, whence they might
make short voyages in search of the whales, and re-
turn to it with their produce, to be thence exported,
as from a central depot, to the various countries
requiring the same, they would find themselves sur-
rounded by their families, interested in all that
sweetens life, and identified with a civilised and well-
regulated community. Education would be bestowed
upon their offspring, and in a few years we should
find ourselves possessed of a numerous, hardy, and
moral body of seamen, in the place of the wild race
by which the ships of the British whale fisheries are
at present infested.

Midrid papers of the 28th ult. have arrived. The fol-
lowing is stated to be the list of the New Ministry which
has been laid before her MAJESTY by the Marquis of
GIRONA. (GASTRO Y ORO*C0) :—The Duke of SOTO-
MAYOR, Foreign Affairs ; BRAVO MURILLO, Justice;
SEIJAS, Interior ; RCCA DE FOQUES, Public Instruction ;
SANTILLANE, Finance; MANS°, War, and BALDASANO,
Marine. Nothing, however, had been officially an..
nounced on the subject.

MADRID BOLSA., JAN. 28.—The Three per Cents.
closed on that day at 324, the Five per Cents. at 20-1, the
Coupons at 181.

We have received the Paris papers of Wednesday.
The debate on the Spanish marriage question was
brought to a sudden conclusion on Tuesday by a most
remarkable declaration on the part of M. GUIZOT. At
the ccnclusion of the speech of M. CREMIEUZ, M.
GUIZOT, from his place, said that, " taking into con•
bideration the friendly disposition towards France lately
manifested by certain members of the English Parlia-
ment, alike eminent from their position and their &-
queue, he could not think of risking any expression
that might tend to weaken that feeling, and, in con-
sequence, he should refrain from entering into any ex-
planations on the subject ;" whereupon M. DuiAuux
proposed the amendment of which he had given notice,
which was treated by the Minister as a vote of want of
confidence, and, on a division, negatived by a majority
of 242 to 28. This extraordinary conduct on the part
of M. GUIZOT is the subject of comment in all the
journals and in all the salons. The Siècle says—
" This is a strange denouement, after so much swaggering.
It is a strange denouement, after the speech so recently pro-
nounced in the Chamber of Peers, and stranger still, if we
compare it with the declaration made by M. Guizot on Mon-
day. Then the scruples which restrained the Chamber, at
the moment when it had to manifest its firm confidence as to
the maintenance of peace, were in the eyes of M. Guizot
natural and respectable. But these scruples, he said, would
be removed after his explanations on two grave questions,
which were to be, and should be, discussed. Yesterday he
was quite as emphatic in announcing that he should hold
his tongue. Be it so ; ne vous genes pas, Minister of a
variable but ever grand policy ; your majority will not the
leas vote in your favour. It has, in fact, voted without re-
ceiving your promised explanations."
The Constitutionnel has the following observations on
the line of conduct pursued by M. GUIZOT:—
" M. Guizot, on Monday, promised full and complete ex-
planations on the affair of the Spanish marriages ; ho felt,
he said, that the Chamber required the whole of the ques-
tions arising out of them to be discussed before it, in order
that it might be fully acquainted with the matterbefore voting
upon the paragraph relating to them. Yesterday, M. Guizot,
pressed by several members to give the explanations which
he had acknowledged to be necessary, refused at once to enter
upon the debate. He demanded grace from the Chamber
and from the British Parliament, and, quitting his high tone,
entreated a universal silence. This prayer of the Minister
proved clearly that he had not a word to say either in justi-
fication of his own conduct, or in exposition of the political
principles by which he had been guided in the affair of
the marriages, without adding to all the causes of discontent
and irritation already existing between France and England.
In presence of accusations so serious, which the simple
perusal of the British documents casts with so much weight
upon our Cabinet, to be silent is to make confession. Thus
our men who were so triumphant shrink back and hide
themselves, the Ministerial marseillaise is no longer sung;
they admit that they are a public danger, and beg to be for-
gotten from fear of aggravating, by their coming forward,
the present state of things, and rendering France still more
profoundly isolated. They make the best escape they can.
God grant that this humble silence may bear some fruits, and
that the durable dissention between the two Governments
may not bring some new check to the honour of France or
to the cause of liberty."
The quid nuncs of the political salons thus account
for this remarkable change of conduct on the part of the
Minister for Foreign Affairs. They say that the KING
sent for M. TRIERS on Friday, and requested, as a per-
sonal favour of him, that he would not attack M. GUIZOT
on the subject of the Montpensier marriages in the
Chamber. After much pressing, M. TRIERS promised
that if M. GUIZOT would abstain from delivering in the
Chamber of Deputies the gunpowder oration which he
had delivered in the Chamber of Peers, he (M. TRIERS)
would abstain from speaking on the subject, but he added,
that if M. GUIZOT repeated the oration, he should feel it
to be his duty to reply. The conditions were agreed to,
and the KING, who had previously severely blamed M.
GuzzoT for delivering a speech of such an infiamtaatory
character before the Chamber of Peers, sent for M.
GUIZOT, and advised him not to speak at all. Hence

the violation on the part of M. GulzoT of the pledge
which he had given to the Chamber on Monday to de-
fend fully and satisfactorily his conduct throughout the
negotiations of the Spanish marriages—hence the silence
of the two great orators of the Chamber, MM. G UIZOT
and TRIERS.

The Gazette des Tribunaux has the following on the
subject of the arrests which have recently taken place
. .

in Paris:—

"For some days past a vague rumour has been afloat of
arrests having taken place which were suggested by political
considerations. Several names were mentioned which had

been already heard • during former trials of the Republican
party. From the information we have procured it appears

that fifteen persons belonging to that fraction of the Repub-
lican party whose understanding has been perverted by Corn-
muniste writings, have been arrested on serious charges.
These individuals formed part of a 'Society of Materialists.'
Their object was to carry into effect the principles avowed
in their writings, in which it is proclaimed that all property
is the fruit of robbery !' Several of the parties arrested are
accused of theft, and even of more heinous crimes. One of

them, judging his position to be desperate, blew out his
brains at the Prefecture of Police with a pistol which he had
concealed."

A fall in the price of flour took place in the Paris
markets on Tuesday. The average price of the quintal,
which had been 62f. during some days, decreased to
59f. 80c. The stock in the Halle, which a month ago
was only 9,000 quintals, had augmented to 21,777 me-
trical quintals, or 2,177,700 kilogrammes."
The Moniteur announces that the price of wheat had
lvikeerwieisdeerdivineliiniiteshed seppilniess.evAertal
cmhaerrtkreetse,
tfhroemdimwhinicuh.