The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-26 00:00:00

selves, or submit to slow extirpation, like the red
ii
men of America. The Le ' ature, the so-called
representatives of the peop may continue the
present systetn, and may gradually, even in spite
of the wise provisions of nature for the continual
melioration of the lot of mankind, extinguish by
starvation those whom it calls, in the jargon of a
school, the superfluous labourers of England ; but
it will not escape the judgment and the execration
of an impartial posterity.

We stated, a few days ago, that the revenue of
the priesthood had increased eight-fold since the
Revolution, while the population had increased
only three-fold ; and yet the priesthood have the
impudence to demand more wealth for the per-
formance of their duties. Within the same perio
the revenue of the Government has increased from
2,061,8561. to 47,000,0001., or it has been mul-
tiplied twenty-three•fold ; and vet those who live
on taxes are not contented with their share of the
national produce. Just before the Revolution,
agricultural labourers received 10d. per day, and
now they receive, under the most favourable cir-
cumstances, 20d., but in many cases not 151
When the landowners, then, and other classes, cry
out about the great increase of prices, and the
great burdens they have to bear, what have they to
say to the labourers who have to bear their full
share of those burdens without receiving a corre•
sponding increase of reward? But what we wish
especially to remark in relation to the comparative
increase of the people and the increase in the reve-
rines of the priesthood and the Government, is that
the labourers by whom all wealth is created have
amply done their duty by the State and the priest-
hood, as is proved by the increase of their revenues;
while it is plain from their insufficient reward, insuf-
ficient protection, and insufficient instruction, that
neither the priesthood nor the State (or Legis-
lature) has done its duty by the working classes.
For the tax-eaters, therefore, to demand more
revenue and more power, and for the priesthood to
demand more wealth and more churches, under such
circumstances, are other specimens of that impu-
dence which we have said seems at present to pre-
vail in the management of all public affairs. If the
Legislature supposes for one moment that it can
hide these and similar facts from the public, it is
mistaken ; and if it supposes that while it is unable
to hide them it can continue to command the pub-
lic respect and public obedience, it is under a great
delusion. In the most trivial affairs, errors and
delusions lead to much mischief, and we know no
reason why the rule of every day life should not be
cvally applicable to the Legislature.

The American Papers, brought by the British
Oeeen, contain a correspondence between General
SCOTT, of the United States Army, and Sir
JOHN HARVEY, Lieutenant-Governor of New
Brunswick, on the settlement of the Maine Boun-
d 3.ry question. We never read a semi-official cor-
rtzponclence which did more honour to the hearts
amid the understanding of the writers, than do the
leemers of General SCOTT and Sir JOHN HARVEY
to. these gentlemen respectively. In every line we
h eve the frankness of the soldier and the humanity
f the patriot. With a delicacy which the nicest
o:iplornatic skill could never give, because it must
he the inborn prompting of a noble nature, General
SCOTT appreciates all the difficulties of his distin-
gc•ished friend's official position, and at once ac-
commodates himself to them. Then, in a burst of
fir le patriotic feeling, in which the yearning of the
In art towards the Mother Country is scarcely con-
ce tiled, he adds—" How happy may we esteem
at if a personal friendship, commenced in
the field, and in opposite ranks, can be made in
exy degree conducive to the preservation of peace—
a. perpetual peace between our countries 1 For if
ar immediate conflict of arms about the disputed
t erritory can be avoided, to allow time for the two
'Governments to adjust, at London or Washington, ,
the great question in controversy (which I am per-
suaded may readily be done), I see no reason to
Mpprehend anotteer cause of serious misunderstand-
it ig between the two portions of the great Anglo-
S .axon race for centuries to come." This is wisely
and feelingly suggested, to prevent calumny
fi orn casting other bitter ingredients into the
c iuldron of contention. But what follows is
seall more indicative of the hold cf early historical
n :collections upon the mind and heart of the gal-
lant soldier. " The ties of common blood," he
ct nrtinecs, "language, civil liberty, laws, customs,
m anners, interests, must, in a reasonable period—
a at is, as soon as we can forget past wars, and they
ar e almost forgotten—work out a strong compact
01' reciprocal feeling (far more binding than written
en gagements), which the other nations of the world
would be wholly unable to dissolve or to resist.
~tch a compact, although the two portions of the
ce arc, and probably will ever remain, under Se-
p :rate Governments, and of different forms, is tw-
ee scary to both—in war as in peace ; for who shall
sa y what hostile combinations in the next one bun-
dr ed, seventy, or even thirty years, may not take
pl; ace among the other nations, to require the united
st :ength of England and America for the safety of
tli eir common principles and interests r This is
melt and nobly said ; and we require but the as-
surance of General SCOTT that he but expresses
the sentiments of enlightened Americans to indulge
i rr the anticipation of an amicable settlement of
e differences.
But while a correspondence thus frank, manly,
ae cl amicable is carried on between General SCOTT
an d Sir JOHN HARVEY, how is it that an equal
tot le of good feeling is not allowed to pervade the
clip lomatic notes of Mr. FORSYTH and Mr. Fox?
W by should the farce of diplomatic acting be kept
u p by an Ambassador and a Secretary of State,
w It en its only effect must be to keep alive a spirit
0. f discord among that reckless border population,
w hose self-interest alone prompts them to plunge
t% ro great nations into all the horrors of a possibly
in terminable war ? The arrogant tone which di-
p!, ,enatists employ in notes which are to be made
pub lie, and which among themselves mean nothing,
prc K Luce pernicious effects upon the minds of the
mull itude by inflaming their passions, prompting
the ( tritivation of hostile feelings, and by keeping
alive the embers of vulgar international jealousy
and. : hatred.
If the whole truth were known we might possi-
bly 1 lave to add here that neither General SCOTT
nor i Sir JOHN HARVEY had the least notion, when
per a ling their correspondence, that it would be made
y wn to more than their respective Governments,
an 3 what would mortify us still more that had they
ap pre hended its publication, their communications
w, mid have acquired a very different form. Should