The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-04 00:00:00

PRICE M.

the measure nipped in its bud. With them the com-
mencement of prosperity with freedom in the West
Indies, and of civilization for Africa, may have to date
in 1840.

3. Since last July, convict slavery bas been abolished.
Though the transportation of convicts is still continued,
it is under circumstances which promise to put a speedy
end to the syEtem.
•1. Various are the colonies as to which in 1840 the
new method of colonization has been more completely
applied. In this year the plan of a uniform price for
public lauds, instead of auction with an upset price, has
beLn adopted for Port Philip, Van Diernn's Laud,
\\Testern Australia, and New Zealand. By the last
accounts from Sydney, it appears that the colonists of
New South \Vales have all but succeeded in their stre-
nuous endeavours to convince the local government that
the fund derived from the sales of public land
ought to be exclusively devoted to immigration;
and the principle of this employment of the land
fund has been acknowledged by acts :of the home
Government with respect to Port Phillip, Wes-
tern Australia, and New Zaland. Indeed the ap-
pointment by Lard John Russell of a board of com-
missioners for the disposal of colonial lands and the su-
perintendence of emigration, though little good has
hitherto resulted from it, and though South Australia
has greatly suffered by the change, was by itself tan
ample recognition of the merits of the South Australian
system. In a year or two more, perhaps, the adminis-
tration may be got to tally better with the principles to
which at length nobody objects. But even then, 1840
will be named as the year of this great and general im-
provement.

5. South Australia has been deeply injured this year ;
in part, as before observed, by the loss of a special aue
thority charged with its colonization, but still more by the
folly of its Governor. Yet we are inclined to hope ceen
in this case that good may come, though out of evil, from
late events. The instant rocal -of Colonel Gawler, when
his mad expenditure became known here, should be a
lesson of some value to all colonial Governors ; and the
appointment of his successor with the warm approbation,
we believe, of everybody in England connected with the
colony, is likely to prove an important event. Captain
Grey is the first Governor, not only of South Australia,
but of any colony, conversant with the South Australian
plan of colonization and desirous to promote its success I
Referring to his other qualities likewise, we may almost
conclude that the inhabitants of South Australia arc not
the on y colonists who will recollect that his appointment
took place in 1840.
6. In 1840, the Western Australian Company was
formed, and despatched its first expedition to plant the
settlement of Australind. In 1840, the Colonial-office
promptly and effectually exerted itself to save a coloniz-
ing company and prevent the abandonment of a coloni-
zing project. In 1840, after ten years of stagnation and
almost oblivion, 'Western Australia became a popular
emigration-field.
7. In 1840, the colonists of South AFrioa came to a
right sense of the difficulties of their position, and a
company was simultaneously formed in London. for the
purpose of supplying them with capital and labour.
8. In 1840, " the Britain of the South " became
part of our Colonial empire ; its future settlement by
emigrants from these islands was subjected to wise re-
gulation ; and it was declared a separate and independ-
ent colony. Thu very history of the people of New
Zealand begins in 1840. In this history, two events
which occurred in 1840 will have a conspicuous
place. They are these :—the Colonial Minister of
England adopts as a principle of state policy the expe-
diency of making colonizing companies useful instru-
ments of the State for the purpose of colonization, and
the Church of Englend seeks to extend herself in colo-
nies without requiring that any should be taxed for her
support ; the Colonial-office finds favour with the colo-
nial public at home, and the Church of England takes
means to render herself popular in the colonies. In
each case, New Zealand furnishes as yet only the prin-
ciple and the example ; but these are so novel and im-
portant—so sure of bearing good fruit in abundance,
thatithey alone would give a great name to the year 1840.
Wishing on this occasion only to note the year's pro-
gress in colonial affairs, we purposely abstai❑ from al-
luding to matters of a less grateful character. But to
what, it will be asked, is all this alteration for the better
due ? It is owing, we believe, to the progress of colonial
knowledge—to the influence of mere definite and far
more active opinion, as well here as in the colonies, with
respect to, the colonisation and government of dietant
settlements. It has not, we think, been occasioned
by mere pressure from without upon Downing-street;
for there arc indications that Men in power have par-
ticipated in the general improvement of opinion on
colonial questions. Nor in saying this do we detract
from the credit that belongs to any individual.
Lord John Russell not the less entitled himself to
be called the best Colonial Minister that England
ever saw, by having in the reforms which he has
accomplished given way to the influence of that
public opinion_ on colonial subjects to which he was
recently a stranger. IVhat higher praise could he de-
sire than the imputation of this motive ? And here, in
concluding, we have a duty to perform. It has come
to our knowledge that Mr- Stephen has taken an active
and very efficient part in what may almost be termed the
new policy of the Colonial-office. Eighteen hundred
and forty, has, indeed, been a remarkable year for the
colonies.

A PARIS MOB MAD.

(From the Memoirs of M. Guisquet, Prefect of Police

in 1832.)

The cholera was beginning to rage, and already car-
ried off more than one hundred persons daily, in the
capital. The populace, terrified at the peculiar symp-
toms of this fearful malady, was inclined to seek a cause
for the disease independent of the disease itself ; and
there arose a rumour, which spread like lightning
through Paris, attributing these terrible effects to poison.
The masses, ready for all impressions in moments of
excitement, were readily persuaded that the fountains
and provisions were so tainted, by men employed for
the purpose. Suddenly, whilst, in the further quarters
of Paris, the mob were yet breaking and burning the
scavengers' carts, immense assemblages formed on the
quays, on the Place de Greve, in the Faubourg Saint-
Antoine, in the city, and at various other points.
Thence, they invaded the streets St. Denis aad St.
Martin, and the Halles ; and never, perhaps, was there
seen in Paris so frightful and numerous a mob,—mad-
dened by the dread of poison, and rushing in search
of the authors of these imaginary crimes. Every
person seen with bottles, phials, or small packets, be-
came an object of insane suspicion ; and a simple
"flacon
was received as convicting evidence by the delirious mul-
litude. "My agents could not be at all points at once,
to stem the fury of these innumerable hosts of men,—
bare-armed and gaunt-visaged—such as are rarely seen
save in moments like these ; and which appeared, on
that day, to issue forth, as it were, from beneath the
pavement. Willing to judge for myself of the truth
of the alarming reports which reached me, I traversed
alone, on foot, and with great difficulty, these mighty
masses of half-clad beings ; and no words can describe
their hideous appearance, or do justice to the impres-
sion of terror conveyed by their fierce and hollow mur-
murs. Though not easily shaken, yet, for a moment, I
trembled for the city—for the lives and properties of its
respectable citizens. If the popular frenzy, instead of
venting itself in acts of individual atrocity, had been di.
rected to objects of plunder and revolution, it is impos-
sible to say what might have been the extent of the devas-
tation. No doubt the public authority would have tri-
umphed in the end, but only by resorting to means the
most energetic, and at the price of melancholy sacrifices.
A young man, employed in the ministry of the Inte-
rior, a relation of M. Delorme, was massacred in the
Rue St. Denis, on suspicion of having thrown poison
into the vessels of a wine merchant. Another was
torn to pieces, on the same pretext, in the Quartier des
Hallos. A third victim, assassinated on the Place
de Greve, was flung, dying, into the river. The mob
tore, from the post at the Hotel de Ville, whither
he had fled for shelter, a wretched man, whom
t4q,s4,pght,erol in an instant ; and a person, described
tO,iti:ii'.uts being a coal-heaver, actually set his dog to
tear to pieces the body of this murdered victim. In the
village •of Vaugiraed, the populace pursued two men,
on whom this suspicion had fallen, and who succeeded in
gaining the shelter of the Mayor's house. But the Ma-
gistrate's abode was violated and invaded, and one of
these unfortunates, a commercial traveller, mercilessly
slaughtered.. A similar scene, to which the same de-
nouement appeared certain, occurred in the Fabourg
St. Antoine. Two imprudent persons fled, pursued by
thousands of men, who accused them of having given a
poisoned tart to some children. The victims of this
charge concealed themselves within the guard-house ;
but it was instantly surrounded, and the massacre of
the fugitives was inevitable, but for a happy inspiration,
which induced the Commissary of Police, and a retired
officer, who happened to be present, to break between
them the tart in question, and eat it, before the eyes of
the crowd. Their presence of mind converted the rage
of the multitude into mirth, so small a matter suffices,
the popular rage
at times, to exi:ite, or allay,

We have reason —to believe that the christening
of the Princess Royal is fixed for the 10th of next month
the anniversary of her Majesty's marriage, ,
A GOOD REFERENCE.'--e D 0
you know Mr.
?" asked one friend of another, referring to an old
gentleman who was famous for his fondness for the extract
of hop.
y iYes, Sir, I know him very well." " What
kind of a inFi sbe ? " why, in the morning when he
gets up he is a beer barrel, and in the evening when he
goes to bed he is a barrel of beer,"