The Sun.
London, England, 1840-04-16 00:00:00

four labourers were sentenced to be imprisoned one
fortnight each in the House of Correction, and kept
to hard labour, because they had threshed some
wheat in a slovenly manner. It was proved that
the wheat was damp and shrivelled, and extremely
difficult to thrash clean ; nevertheless as these agri-
cultural labourers, belonging to a class now repre-
sented by the bread taxers as in a most flourishing
condition, could not raise amongst them as much as
would satisfy whatever damage they had done, they
were punished like felons. What is this but the
slave process of compelling labour by the tread-
' wheel, which we have paid millions to abolish in Ja-
maica ? if the master had withheld part of the
men's wages in the latter case, or if in the former
he had dismissed his carter, would he have been
subjected to felon's imprisonment or felon's fare ?
No. He might be made to pay the wages and the
costs, and perhaps compensate the man for loss of
time ; but to send a master to the tread-mill for a
breach of a civil contract would speedily bring the old
house of the law about the ears of the Justices,
Judges, and law-makers. Such cases—and they
are numerous—affording contrasts which the peo-
ple observe, have made, we are informed, a pro-
found impression on the working classes, and arc
preparing for our once great and free Englind a
fearful state of revolution and anarchy.

The case of LOVETT and COLLINS made the
same partiality as glaringly, if nut so painfully ap-
parent. It was distinctly proved, that the punish-
ment to which they have been subjected is quite
unexampled. Being poor and comparatively friend••
less, they have been treated like miscreants ; while
gentlemen, convicted of the same offence, have
passed their imprisonment in the midst of books,
music, and love. This contrast, we are well as-
sured, has already been felt and commented on, and
can only tend to make the bulk of the people more
and more disgusted with the laws, and more and
more at variance with the Legislature.

The kindly feelings expressed by Mr. WARBUR-
TON, Sergeant TALFOURD, Sir E. WILMOT,
and others, may tend in a small degree to lessen
the irritation of the working classes, and diminish
the alienation which now exists between them and
the upper classes. The reverse effect, we are
afraid, will be the consequence of the observations
of Lord G. F. SOMERSET and Mr. F: MAuLE,
who, as the servant and creature of a bad system,
was obliged in its defence to expound incorrect
principles. We regret such effects, and we see
with alarm the widening chasm which now sepa-
rates the different classes.

The Tory journals complain of the alienation of
the people from their rulers, and the Whig journals
admit it. Even the Tory Bishop of LONDON has
acknowledged that the tithe-fed parsons have less
influence over the people than water doctors and
other quacksalvers. Of this alienation and its great
extent, the recent trials afford a striking example.
The Globe of last night exultingly informs the pub-
lic that no less than 232 persons have been con-
victcd of treason and sedition out of 290 committed.
About sixteen or eighteen leaders of the labouring
classes have bee❑ sentenced at the late as-
sizes to periods of hard imprisonment, similar
to that suffered by COLLINS and LOVETT,
varying from eighteen to three months ; and these
very numerous convictions and very severe punish-
ments for political offences, have been passed over
by the whole of the London Daily Press, without
a single comment. The imprisonment of gentle-
men like Sir JOHN HOBHOUSE or Sir F. BUR-
DETT would have set in motion all the pens of all
the Editors of Britain, but here is a mass of con-
victions and punishment which has called forth no
remarks, save in the journals which belong exclu-
sively to the people. That journals which are
engaged in writing our daily history, and eager to no-
. tice remarkable events, should have thought those
numerous convictions and severe punishments on
account of sedition and treason, unworthy of com-
ment, is only to be accounted for by . the journals
being the organs exclusively of the upper and
middle classes, and, therefore, regardless of every-
thing which concerns and interests the great bulk
of the people. We mention it not as a reproach,
but as a proof of that complete and dangerous
schism which has grown up between the ruling
classes and the bulk of the community, and which
the proceedings of the House of Commons on
Tuesday were more calculated to extend than dimi-
nish. They show the source of the evil, but they are
not likely to correct it. Manifesting gross parti
ality and gross injustice will only embitter the dis-
positions of the people without inducing the Legis-
lature to reform itself ; so every day and every act
of the Legislature will increase mutual estrange.
ment till a fearful revolution once more jostles
all together.

We observe that Mr. CRESWELL put a ques-
tion to the CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER
last night relative to the unsettled class of Danish
claims.

As we understand that the claims, on a rigid
investigation, have been considerably reduced, we
hope the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER will
make some arrangement in his Budget for the
payment of these just claims.

The Moniteur of Tuesday, which we have received
with the other Paris Journals of the same date, com-
municates some interesting intelligence from Spain and
Africa. The news from Spain is (mbodied in the fol-
lowing telegraphic despatch from the French Am-
bassador at Madrid to the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
and is respectively dated Madrid, April 9, and Bayonne,
April 13 :
" The Queen has accepted the resignation of the Minis-
ters of Marine, of the Intetior, and of War. The first
has been replaced by M. Sotela, Sub-Secretary of that
department ; the second, by M. Armendarix, a Deputy ;
and the last, provisionally, by M. Serzagary, Sub-secre-
tary. The Ministry of Finance has been entrusted to M.
Santillan, a Deputy. These selections partake the opinions
of the majority."
No cause is assigned for the resignation of Ministers so
attached to place as the gentlemen whose retirement
from office is thus announced. It was understood, in-
deed, that ESPARTERO was not on the best
terms with the Cabinet, on account of the
little notice taken of his military exploits in the speech
f-om the Throne, bui it was supposed at the same time
that he was not in a condition to resent the slight cast
upon him, and which was intended as a rebuke for hav-
ing taken upon himself the responsibility of the cele-
brated letter of his military secretary on the constitu-
tional right of freedom of election, in which the con-
duct of the Cabinet was indirectly severely censured.
This despatch is just three days in advance of the
ordinary mail from Madrid, which it therefore deprives
of all interest.

The news from Africa is very favourable. The fol-
lowing are the telegraphic despatches :
" THE SOUS. PREFECT CF TOULON TO THE MINISTER OF

THE INTERIOR.

" Toulon, April 12.
" A letter worthy of credit, from Philipville, of the ad,
brought by a merchant ship, announces ' that a Lieutenant
of Abd-el-Kader, who was marching on Setif to attack us,
fell into an ambuscade laid by a Sheik, our ally, and lost
two standards and 500 men."

" THE MARITIME PREFECT TO THE MINISTER OF MARINE.
" A Captain of a merchant vessel writes as follows,
from Philipville, on the 3d :
A Lieutenant of Abd-el.Kader marching near Setif,
with the intention of attacking us, fell into the bands of
the She'lt-el-Arab, with a battalion of infantry, some
cavalry, and tw pieces of cannon, The Sheik, our ally,
allowed him to exhaust his powder, and when he saw that
his ammunition was expended, he drove the Emir's people
back to the mountains, killing 500 men, whose ears he has
sent to Admiral Gallois, and taking two colours, two
drums, and all the baggage. The Lieutenant and his
cavalry alone escaped.' "
The Journal des Debals says that the name of the
Arab Sheik, to whom France owes this triumph, is
FARHAT, surnamed " the Serpent of the Desert," and
sue of the few Arabs of distinction who had promised to
assist the French in taking Constantine. But before
he appeared with his forces the town had been taken,
and his loyalty being suspected, very littla notice was
afterwards taken of him. But ABD-EL-KADER'S sus.