The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-05 00:00:00

Otteniv ;Atlt

LONDON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1817.

There are certain individuals who are the victims
of impatience, and who are not only victims them-
selves, but would willingly render the Governments
of the earth victims likewise, and thereby produce
national bankruptcies. The fabulist has told us of
the old gentleman cutting the goose open to get all
the golden eggs at once; the persons to whom we
allude would have strangled the goose because it
didn't lay fast enough. If they were haymakers,
they would burn the grass out of sheer
vexation that it required something longer than
two minutes to ripen. If they were planters, they
would inevitably demolish the sprouts, from the cir-
cumstance of their not giving forth branches and
blossoms and fruitage in a twinkling. If they were
weavers, they would damage the threads for not
weaving themselves into an elaborate woof on the in-
stant. In writing thus we are not exaggerating in
the smallest particular. We are only forming some
illustrative hypotheses upon those disciples of im-
patience, who are unhappily so prevalent, and in
accordance with whose advice the whole framework
of society would be joltered into inextricable confu-
sion. After indulging in their own lugubrious
fancies, they are resolute in the promulgation of their
pernicious advice. They would say to Ireland,
" Your potatoes are liable to a periodical murrain—
therefore destroy the healthy seed which is still
remaining." They would say to the Legis-
lature, " The details of your Constitution re-
quire continual modification—therefore utterly
abandon the principles of that Constitution." They
would say to Sir ROBERT PEEL and Mr. COBDEN,
" Bread is by no means cheaper nor more plentiful since
the abrogation of the corn-laws—therefore let us be at
once restored to the Protective system." THEY SAT
to the Government of Great Britain, "Sinde has be-
longed to us since 1844, it has required an outlay of
1,000,0001. sterling per annum during that period, or,
according to a yet more unfavourable calculation.
an expenditure .of not less than 1,500,0001.;
3,000,0001. sterling 'hive, therefore, been consumed
already by this unprofitable conquest. Look at the
batta, look at the advances for the hypothecation of
food, look—for Heaven's sake, look ! 0 you who are
solicitous for a rational economy in the disbursements
of the national treasury—look at the extraordinary
expenses entailed upon the exchequer by the cam-
paigns undertaken against the Seikhs. There's a
pretty bargain ! Those are the advantages resulting
from territorial aggrandisement! Those are the
blessings consequent upon the prowess and the wisdom
of Sir C. NAPIER. Sinde, we were assured, would
open to our enterprise the markets of Beloochistan ;
the possession of Sinde, we were told, would give our
merchandize freer access to the cities of Caubul, it
would enable us to advance from the Delta of the
Indus to the shores of the Persian Gulf, it would en-
able us to find purchasers even in the citizens of
Ispahan. Three years have elapsed since the occupa-
tion of Sinde—actually three whole years, and,
instead of increased pecuniary advantages, we are
3,000,0001. out of pocket. Our increased territory has
afforded us a decreased exchequer. In Sinde we
only grasped a handfull of fairy gold ; our hand is
empty, the gold has vanished. From Kurachee to
Bahawulpore, from Jullundur to Duree, and thence to
Tatta, the population have been during that calami-
tous interval the spectators of our delusion. The
apple was blooming, but it has turned to ashes on our
lip. Let us cast from us this ruinous appendage, for
what is the utility of a further reduction of Sinde ?"
Those are the arguments employed by the individuals
whom we have already designated as the victims of im-
patience. And never in the records of monomania were.
arguments advanced more impregnated with foolish.
ness, more closely approximating to the utterances of
insanity, more indicative of a contemptible short-
sightedness. They have not even the redeeming qua-
lity of speciousness. What ! are rnen ignorant
enough to imagine that the riches of a country like
Sinde are to be diverted into a new channel with a
celerity like this ? Why, the smallest shopkeeper
in the meanest street in the poorest district of the
metropolis might give these dissentients a wholesome
lesson as to the time required between the first out-
lay and the first profit in any novel undertaking. It
is not in a single day, says the proverb, that Rome
was built. The wealthiest mine ever excavated re-
quires capital to penetrate into its veins of metal,
labour to bring its ore to the smelting-furnace, time
to put its whole machinery into operation. As well
might a person plant an orange pip in the ground,
and sit down until it has sprung into existence, and
borne fruit, as anticipate the immediate realisation of
commercial and social benefits from the occupation
of Sinde. Men cannot be reclaimed from barba-
rism in a lunar month, much less can the evils of
a spurious civilisation be eradicated from a
community like that dwelling upon the banks of. the
Indus in three preliminary years. Besides this, is
the Government to be scoffed into the abandonment
of a territory so situated, so fertile, and so gained,
merely because there are persons sufficiently feeble in
intelligence, and sufficiently cursed with impatience,
as to murmur ever the tardiness of the remuneration
from that quarter ? Shall the fruitfulness of Sinde
be poured into the lap of another nation at the very
moment when it is about tumbling into ours ? Is the
blood which was shed so copiously upon the invasion
of Sinde to have been poured forth in vain ?
Is the prowess of our soldiers only to be the
precursor of our disgraceful retirement ? Is the
skilful generalship of Sir CHARLEs NAPIER to be
followed merely by the withdrawal of our forces
from the land, for the possession of which that
skill was alone displayed ? Is a land situated as
Sinde is, to be forsaken merely at the quer-
rulous suggestion of a few malcontents ? Placed
in the very centre of southern Asia, with the
territories of llindostan to the south-east, with the
sandy desert, Caubul, and the Punjaub to the north,
with Beloochittan to the west, and the Indian Ocean
to the south, Sinde affords us at once an almost
impregnable harrier against incursions from the
direction of Persia and the surrounding countries,
while it opens to us a new channel for the further
extension of our Oriental commerce. Beyond th's,
it is an instrument fogrtohotehdeoudfn.,
millions
intellects
a n
abandoned,
o blessingsnedof,
vai lsits.a ti on
Shallam theong
otlfieeuncultivated
with Sinde, for the gratification of a foolish ti •
midity
and the nourishment of a diseased morality ?

A very respectable and numerous meeting took
place last evening, in the National Hall, High Hol-
born, to consider the question of the abolition of
capital punishment. Resolutions were passed favour-

able to the extinction of the present extreme penalty
of the law. It was announced that a similar meet-
ing will bit held to-night, to be presided over by Mr.
HumE, M.P., at which, we doubt not, they will come
o a like decision. Though we cannot coincib Ij
in the extent to which these gentlemen are prepared
to mitigate the criminal code, nor in the soundness
of their proposition, nor in the arguments by which
they support it, that the punishment of death is " inde-
fensible on the grounds of policy, morality, and re-
ligion," still it must be conceded that their resolutions
reflect the highest honour upon their feelings of
humanity. The pure and benevolent motives which
govern their proceedings must necessarily engage a
large portion of public sympathy, and naturally and
in the most agreeable manner predispose every one
seriously to weigh every species of information which
may be elicited in support of the cause which they
philanthropically espouse. These meetings can do
no harm, and may be productive of much good. In
the discussion of the interesting topic of capital
punishment, a review of our criminal code in general
is necessarily introduced : in this way many crude
deformities and unnecessary severities, by which it is
at present characterised, come to be analysed, and,
by a seasonable exposition of them, the path is cleared
for reformation.

Any spontaneous effort to diminish the ten-
sive powers of punishment conferred by law,
with a due regard to existing circumstances, and a well-
established recognition of improved morals throughout
the community, cannot be too highly lauded. It
must not, however, be overlooked, that the task is one
of extreme difficulty, demandiug the nicest powers of
discrimination. The difficulty consists in determining
the point to which relaxation can be suffered, in pre-
cise consonance with the level to which civilisation
has raised the humblest classes of any particular
society. We are not without the hope that we may
hereafter attain to a pitch of civilisation when, con-
sistently with the protection of life in general, the
infliction of capital punishment may be safely dis-
pensed with; and that inferior penalties may, by
reason of the universal prevalence of more refined
feelings of morality, and their social reaction upon
the minds of those who outrage the law, produce in
time the same preventive results which are at present
more or less solely secured by the dread of the gal-
lows. But we cannot " lay the flattering unction to
our souls" that the existing phases of society would
warrant the State in depriving itself of the power of
subjecting the authors of heinous crimes to condign
punishment.

It must be remembered, that those who take
the opposite view enter the discussion with great
advartages. Most specious and popular argument
lie w ithin their reach, and of which they never omit
to avail themselves. The disputant can so inge-
niously arrange his premises that, if you once un-
warily admit them, there is no conclusion to which
he cannot drive you by force of abstract
reasoning. A well-turned sentence will often
cause a whirlwind of applause; but when
we come to test it by dispassionate reflec•
Lion, we as often discover that approbation has
been injudiciously bestowed. Precisely such a sen-
tence was uttered last evening by Mr. C. Girxtri
Before man assumed the power of Omnipotence he
should possess the wisdom of Omniscience." This is
language that would captivate any popular audience.
Its value, however, is derived from the assumption
which is directly involved, and lies concealed at the
bottom, that capital punishment does not, for in-
stance, deter a man from committing murder. But
this is begging the whole question ; because, as-
suming, on the other hand, that man is deterred from
committing murder by the dread of capital
punishment, then, although we are certainly
neither all .powerful nor all-wise, yet it is
conceived we best exercise our limited power and
limited faculties, and work out the merciful ends of
PROVIDENCE, when we have thus, by virtue of our
laws, indirectly saved the life of an innocent man
from the murderous assault of either his avowed or
hidden enemy. Other examples of a like spurious
tendency are contained in the speech of Mr.
FREDERICK RowToN. " When, however," observed
this gentleman, " life was publicly taken it was im-
possible that life could be held sacred." Though
life is not held sacred, yet the words quoted do
not prove that life is not better protected by the
existing law than it would be without it. But this is
precisely the onus probandi that rests with Mr. Row-
TON. Again, " when the law was guilty of public
murder, where was the greater enormity of the
offence committed by individuals ?" This pseudo-
argument is vicious and dangerous in the extreme.
Moreover, it is nonsensical. The law can-
not be guilty of murder. Rightly or
wrongly, as to the effect, the law proceeds
upon a good motive—the better security of life by
the force of stern example. Can the same motive be
assigned to the murderer ? These are speci-
mens of the fallacies into which the best-
intentioned men are apt to fall. But, whilst
we feel it to be our duty to guard the
public against being misled by such objec-
tionable methods of reasoning upon a most momen-
tous subject, we would hail with delight the day
when " swords shall be converted into ploughshares,
spears into pruning-hooks, and when man shall not
destroy in the whole of GOD'S universe."

The accounts received from Ireland every post, we
regret to say, still exhibit a fearful state of destitution
and distress existing in that unhappy land. The ex-
traordinary exertions of the Government, the large
amount of money distributed every week in payment
of the wages of the men employed on the public
works, the assistance afforded by the several relief
committees and the poor-law unions, although all ex-
tremely valuable, are yet insufficient to meet the
emergency, and to provide such a moderate supply of
food and raiment as will avert the constant repetition
of deaths from famine and the inclemency of the
weather, or from pestilence occasioned by their com-
bined operation. These painful results are not re-
stricted to the poorer districts. True it is that the
west of the county of Cork and the county of Mayo
have attained a sad celebrity for the unprecedented
amount of human suffering that has unhappily fallen
, upon the inhabitants of these localities ; but other and
hitherto more favoured counties have contributed
their quota to the tales of misery and destitution.
Even Armagh and Fermanagh have not been exempted
from the occurrence of deaths from want. A few
short months, and a statement, if sufficiently authen-
ticated, of a single life having been lost from such a
cause would have excited the public mind to the
highest degree, and stimulated every one possessed of
the commonest feelings of humanity to exert himself
to the uttermost to prevent the possibility of a
recurrence of an event so horrible in itself, and so
disgraceful to the entire community; investigations
of the most searching character would have taken
place; every circumstance connected with the case
would have been minutely inquired into, and every
precaution would have been taken to guard against
the repetition of a similar event. But, alas ! the
frequency of such occurrences has considerably abated
the intensity of the feelings that are thereby awakened.
Not a day passes but accounts, not resting on mere
statement, but given by sworn witnesses, and con-
firmed by the verdicts of sworn juries, of many deaths
from starvation are recorded in the daily press ; and
for every case that obtains such publicity man
others are passed by in silence, and . the wretehee
victims are consigned to their humble graves without
the causes of their premature end being extensively
known. It is, indeed, a frightful state to whicl our
Irish brethren have been reduced, and fearful have
been the straits which even the more fortunate have
had to encounter in their struggle for a precarious
existence. Who can picture the feelings of the strong
man worn down by degrees from the effects of inanition,
regarding
foodand
w sorrowsith ‘
~
haino(ili
his
helplesschildren
thecryingh his cares
th e
he is unable to supply them, and finding his strength
ebbing away and gradually sinking, enduring day by
day the agonies of hope deferred, and protracted fa-
mine ? It would be impossible to do so. A veil
should be drawn over that to which expression could
not be given. It would also be vain to dwell on in-
dividual cases, when hundreds of a similar character
are simultaneously occurring in many different parts
of the country.
What, then, is to be done to mitigate, to remove
this fearful calamity ? The Home Secretary has
truly stated that it is impossible for any Government 1
by any means to meet all the cases of severe priva- 1
1

tion and distress that are to be, :found in Ireland. The
Ministry will do much, but they must be aided and as-
sisted in their work of hem:l-oleo( .e and charity; public
relief must be tied down and rest rioted within certain
limits, within which it will be impossible for every
case to be included. A general, indiscriminate relief
afforded to every one, whether earned or not, would
lead to an entire disorganization of the framework of
society, would damp and check the exercise of
private charity and private exertion, and would
speedily lead to evils even greater than those for
which it was intended to provide a remedy. All that
can be done by the Executive is to afford employ-
ment on an extensive scale, and to grant funds in aid
of those that may be procured by private subscrip-
tions. And well have those now in office discharged
the duty they owed to the country. It would be ri-
diculous to expect that they could pour provisions
into Ireland sufficient to supply the wants of all,
and if they entered the field as competitors
they must do so, for that competition would at
once discourage the private trader, and prevent him
from dealing in a commodity in which he would
have to encounter so powerful an opponent—a rival
who would be contented not merely to reap no profit
from the speculation, but to sustain a loss that would
be ruinous to any possessed of less gigantic re-
sources. We doubt not that the entire policy of the
Government with respect to Ireland will hereafter,
when everything can be more maturely considered
and calmly inquired into, receive universally the ap-
probation that has been accorded to it by those com-
petent to arrive at sound conclusions. The suggestion
of Sir GEORGE GREY, " that means should be taken
for raising as well in England as in Ireland
contributions for the relief of extreme cases
of want and destitution, not capable of
being relieved by the existing poor-law, or
by the works in progress or hereafter to be sanc-
tioned," appears to present the most feasible means of
supplying the desideratum, and providing in the least
objectionable manner the required and necessary
assistance to the Government measures; and this, we
are happy to say, will take place on the most exten-
sive scale, and under the highest and most propitious
auspices. Already it appears that a committee is
being formed here of men of rank and benevolence,
some of them named by and on the part of the Go-
vernment, who will not only contribute themselves
largely, but from their character, influence, and the
prestige attached to their names, but above all the
sacred cause in which they are about to act, will
afford an ample guarantee for the judicious applica-
tion of the sums that may be collected, and secure an
amount adequate to the purpose and honourable
to the donors. The funds so collected are to pass
through a committee in Dublin of men of rank and
station of all classes, creeds, and parties, who will
distribute it through the relief committees, according
to the exigencies of their respective districts. There
will, therefore, be no possible excuse for any with-
holding of contributions from a fear that they may
not be duly applied to the purposes contemplated. 'We
will not so far wrong our countrymen as to doubt
that they will come forward speedily and efficiently,
that they will from their, abundance spare a portion
to the unhappy and wretched. They may do so with-
out the necessity of an abstinence from any:of the com-
forts or necessaries of life : from their superflui-
ties they may provide necessaries for thousands
and tens of thousands of their fellow-creatures who
are now in the lowest state of misery and destitution.
By so doing, by acting in a manner worthy of Chris-
tian men, they will add a fairer page to their national
history than ever celebrated the triumphs of conquest,
or the acquisition of territory, by war or diplomacy-
That benevolence that hag been extended to the most
remote parts of the earth, that has soothed the affiie,
tions of the unhappy in every clime, that has pro-
vided instruction for the heathen, and struck the
fetters from the slave, that has been extended to the
brute creation, and has endeavoured to prevent unne-
cessary suffering from being inflicted .on any of
GOD'S creatures, will be extended to our Irish brethren
in this season of trial and sore affliction. We trust,
ere many days have elapsed, that it will be our pleas-
ing duty to record a general and liberal subscription
from all, according to their means. Promptitude and
dispatch is all important ; when once a collection is
in progress through all parts of the kingdom, a
QUEEN'S Letter may fairly be looked for in its aid,
and from what the Government has already done,
and what fell from Sir GEORGE GREY, in his letter,
we may predict, with the utmost certainty, that such
will then be granted. Let every person act as if the
matter depended on his individual exertions, and the
result will more than fulfil our warmest anticipa-
tions, and bring consolatien to the abodes of misery
and destitution.

Accounts have been received from Portugal by her
MAJESTY'S steamer Rattler, which left Lisbon on the
27th, Oporto on the 29th, and Vigo on the 30th.
The intelligence she brings is important. On the
22d an action was fought at Torres Vedras between
the forces of BOMFIM and SALDAN HA, in which the
troops (700 men),
his
swing principally to
tformerhed es
ewr
tai
os n tooft a lal yp defeated,ortion
of
and his forces completely dispersed. Bosarrm and
his staff were taken prisoners, together with 2,000 48
his followers. The action was well fought on both
sides, and BOMFIM and his officers were allowed to
retain their swords. The official dispatches of SAL-
DANIIA, announcing his victory, will be found in ano-
ther column. Of the QUEEN'S army there are 57
and 13 missing.
killed, 316 wounded, Of Bomrim's
280 were killed or escaped, and the rest either surren-
dered or joined SALDAN lIA. Bomrim and his staff
were conducted to Lisbon, and he is now a prisoner
on board the Diana frigate, off Belem Castle. While
in the custody of SALDANH the prisoners were
treated in the kindest manner, but since
they have been on board the Diana they have
been used with great harshness. BOMFIM con-
trived to send off a dispatch to Das ANTAS, who
immediately commenced a retreat, at the head of 300
regulars, on Coimbra, to effect a junction with LOULE.
He sent dispatches to .VASCONCELLAS, at Santarem,
who evacuated that place at the head of
2,500 men and 100 cavalry, haying previously
spiked all the guns, and also fell back on Coimbra,
SALDANIIA having embodied in his army the 700
deserters from BOMFIM'S troops, marched from Torres
Vedras on the 28th in pursuit of Des ANTAS. It is
said that DAS ANTAS will, when he has
effected a junction with LOULE and VAS-
CONCELLAS retire on Oporto. CASAL has expelled
the Miguelite forces under M'DONNELL from Braga.
The Miguelites and Insurgents are negotiating a
junction. Things are in statu quo at Oporto. BOMFIM
has written to Sir W. PARKER, soliciting his good
offices to procure for his companions and himself
some mitigation of the sufferings they are en-
during. He states that they are crowded almost
to suffocation, the ship being already nearly full of
political detenus, and
that
they are fed upon brown
bread and the coarsest fare, and are not allowed to
procure for themselves, even with their own money
either food or beds to
lie upon.
The Duke of 'TERCEIRA. is still a prisoner at
Oporto.
Madrid papers to the 28th have arrived.

A preparatory sitting of the Senate was held on
that day, at which the Duke DE CASTRO TORRENO
r"eSided. A deputation of twelve was ap-
tiointed to meet their Majesties the QUEEN and
the KING CONSORT on the 31st. A meeting
of about one hundred Moderado deputies was
hell on the same day, at which Senor PACHECO an-
nounced his intention of opposing the present Minis-
try. A Cabinet Council was to be held in the even-
ing to settle the wording of the QußEN's speech, and
to decide as to who should be the Ministerial candi-
dates for the Presidencies of the Chambers.
MADRID BOLSA, DEC. 28.—The Three per Cents.
were done on the 28th at 331 ; the Five per Cents.,
20 13-16 ; Passives,
6i ;Coupons, 19.

We have receivel the Paris papers of Sunday.
The New Year's-day addresses to the KING and the
Message of the President of the UNITED STATES are
the subjects of comment in them. In commenting
on the latter, the Journal des Dads, in strong lan-
guage, condemns Mr. Pola's attempted vindication
of the. Mexican war. The Constitutionnel says
that the Message is intended as a refuta-
bon of the charges brought against Mr. Poras'
administration by the Whigs, and sneeringly
adds—" It may be thought this refutation is more