The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-06 00:00:00

timing 51aix,.

LONDON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1847.

A terrible catastrophe lately threatened to plunge
the Raman population once more into that abyss of
political degradation from which it had been very
nearly extricated. A conspiracy more tremendous in
guilt, or more blood-thirsty in character, has never
been detected since the days of CATALINE. It
evinces in Prince 31ErrEaxtcx an audacity like that
of MARAT, and a ruthlessness like that of CESAR
BORGIA. Had not the villanous machinations of the
Austrian Cabinet been divulged, and resolute mea-
sures instantly adopted for their frustration, this year
would have been memorable in the annals of history
for a massacre as diabolical as that of the Huguenots.
Happily, however, the infamous plots of Vienna
were discovered in time, and the good fortune which
has
hitherto attended the movements of the present
glorious Pontificate, did not desert the great and
admirable Pius in the moment of his greatest peril.
Austria is discomfited and Rome is free. We re-
gard, in fact, the occurrences which have recently
transpired in the Eternal City as at once so remark-
able ard decisive as to render the complete emanc'pa •
tion of Italy no longer doubtful. The very morning
which was destined by the retrograde parry to v, itness
the abasement of the reforming PONTIFF and th.-
butchery of his loving people proved, on the contrary,
the one in which his liberal government attained its
apogee. Whatever may be the subsequent contri,
vancies of the absolutists there can now be no hesita-
tion as to the final success of the generous Govern-
ment of the Sovereign PONTIFF.
Authentic accounts of the extraordinary circum-
stances to which we are alluding have arrived in
England. Before the accuracy of the first indefinite
rumours were substantiated by correspondents of un-
questionable veracity, we must acknowledge that we
were incredulous as to the truth of such horrible and
sanguinary schemes. With a vivid remembrance of
the incorporation of
wecould
Cracow,and the buccaneering ex-
pedition in Gallicia,not conceive to ourselves
the possibility of the Austrian Administration adventur-
ing upon a crime so gigantic in rnocli.teyv.eThe narrative
a entirely
a
of these proceedings is now, h
beyond unbelief as the turpitude of ther'
conspirators
is utterly without palliation. It would appear that
the anniversary of that memorable amnesty which
first showed to the people of Rome the clement dig.
position of the new Pore, was selected by the agents
of FERDINAND as the most fitting reriod for crushing
the spirit of Freedom in the Papal States. Amidst
the majestic ceremonies of that day, when the grate.
ful populace of Rome were manifesting their love for
their SOVEREIGN, the hired assassins of Austria were
to mingle with the multitude assembled on the Piazza
`4" Popolo, and there, at the foot of the
colossal statue of Pope Pius IX., to offer up the lives of
many
thousands to the offended genius of Despotism.
The salvation of those lives is universally attributed
to the i
vicigicliaßnocie:t
patriotism of a second RlENZl—
called
r
Icaaoucc;c,
ino.
position.
simply a Roman
citizen,s virtually a tribune in in-
fluence, and a prince
ponosition. The uneasiness
am
of public reoicin
which manifested itself
approached,
j gs gthe
people as the day
seemed to arise from a
sort of intuitive sense of
impending
a variety of suspicions in the he
art
ofngeertc, glnado zocucsieod.
His watchfulness was in the end rewardedb
timely detection of a conspiracy which y
threatenedthe
himself and bia fellow citizens with a sudden and bloody
death. Immediately these hideous revelations un-
folded tkeppelves before the Mutiny of Ciontonc.

cm, he communicated with i",he popular members of
the Roman nobility; and, through the intercession of
Prince BORGIIESE and Duke MASSI:IO, obtained per-
mission from the Posirrrer to render the schemes of
the enemy abortive, through the instrumentality cf
the newly-organized Natioi.al Guard. Simulta-
neously with the assembling of this military
force, composed entirely of the patrician and
middle classes of society, a placard was posted in
the different streets, at the suggestion of CICERO.
NACCIO, enumerating the principal personages who
had conspired against Pope Pius and his people.
Upon the appearance of that placard the excitement
of the population exceeded all ordinary limits : the
guilty accomplices were captured and the Romans
were avenged without the effusion of one drop of
blood. GRASSELINI, the Governor of the city, from
his evident connivance with the Austrian merce-
naries, and especially from his traitorous inactivity
throughout the whole of these transactions, was
summarily dismissed from authority, and his post
committed, pro tempore, to the charge of Aloamint,
the popular advocate. Cavalier MINARDI was
only preserved from destruction at the hands of
the mob by the walls of an oratory opposite
S. Andrea delle Frate and the impassioned
appeals of the renowned vrator Father VENTURA.
Such has been the perilous position of Pius IX. and
his people ! Such have been the devilish projects of
imperial Austria! Such has been the celebration of
the amnesty ! The result has, contrary to the inten-
tion of the absolutists, confirmed the popular enthu-
siasm towards the Sovereign PONTIFF, it has placed the
Liberal government of the Vatican on an indestruc-
tible foundation, above all, it has confirmed the re-
solution of the noble-hearted POPE in advancing
boldly along the sublime path upon which he has
adventured since the hour of his coronation.

Although we deeply regretted the recent decision
of the eleators of Lambeth, and their rejection of the
liberal and enlightened politician wh-, during four
successive Parliamentg—indeed, from the period when
the elective franchise was first bestowed upon them
under the Reform Act—had represented them with
distinguished ability, undeviating integrity, and un-
remitting zeal, there is at least this consolation, that
his successor is not one opposed to the principles which
have ever been put forward is the Senate on behalf of
that constituency. It is net a Protectionist, opposed
to the further development of the great doctrines of
free trade, and anxious again to re-establish, and, it
possible, to perpetuate the baneful monopoly under
which commerce was fettered and restrained, and our
national prosperity retarded and impaired for so many
years—it is not a Tory, opposed to all future reform,
and anxious to maintain the abuses that have gradually
accumulated about our institutions—that has been
elected in his place. We should have been indeed I.ra i-
fied to have seen Mr. CHARLES PEARSON returned as a
Member of the Legislature under other circumstanc,
and enabled to direct his extensive experience and
undoubted abilities to the service of his country in the
highest sphere of action, the Senate. There are many
points of the deepest interest and the most vital
importance to the public generally to be discussed and
legislated on in the new Parliament. Much has
already been effected since the constitutional theory
of a popukr representation ceased to be a mockery
and a delusion, but far more remains to be done, aod
we shall anxiously look for these ameliorations and
reforms at the hands of our Liberal Government
which their increased strength, not only in the Legis-
lature, but in that which alone constitutes the true
basis of Mini,terial power—the public opinion—will
enable them to carry by triumphant majorities.
There never was a period in our history when so
many grave and serious questions demanded a prompt
solution as at the present moment. On former occa-
sions some one or two topics absor ►ed the whole at-
tention of the people ; each was selected as the subject
of party warfare, as the battle-ground on which the
conflict was to be decided between hereditary oppo-
nents. Such was the Emancipation Acr, the Reform
Bill, the free-trade measures, and others, that enlisted
the entire feelings and sympathies of the people with
the belligerents on either side. In the excitement
this created matters were lost sight of that would
otherwise have required the most attentive considera-
tion. This is happily no longer the case. Parties are
practically annihilated ; in place of a blind and implicit
obedience to particular leaders, each question is
canvassed, and decided on ins own particular merits,
its inherent claims, without reference to the
quarter from whence it has emanated, by whom
brought forward, or by whom supported. " Measures,
and not men," will henceforward prove the rule and
not the exception, and we may therefore reasonably
hope that many matters will be discussed and decided
upon in the new Parliament which were heretofore
postponed owing to the causes to which we have
alluded.

Mr. PEARSON, with a praiseworthy candour, pub.

lished a full exposition of his views and feelings OR
many of these subjects previous to the election. In
his first letter to the electors he enters into a topic
which must affect most materially the future pros-
pects, the happiness or misery of thousands and tens
of thousands of our fellow-creatures, on the result of
which must depend whether neglected and helpless
children, those deprived of the affectionate care of
parents, and left without any legitimate protectors or
guardians, are to be plunged into vice and depravity,
and wholly demoralised, until they become thieves and
pickpockets, preying upon the industry and resources
of others, habitual violaters of the law, perpetrators
of offences of every degree of magnitude from the pet-
tiest theft to the most atrocious homicide, or converted

' into useful and industrious members of society,
' earning their daily bread by their lionesrlabour. Mr.
PEARSON states, and with truth, " that when one of
these unhappy children gets carried to prison for his
first offence, you may very safely predicate that in
plunder or in prison expenses he will cost the nation
from 1001. to 2001. before he is finally disposed
4." There can be lithe doubt of this ; in-
deed, it would be easy to show that the
amount is much underrated. It becomes,
then, a question whether, setting aside all the
higher considerations that should influence Christian
men, indeed every one possessed of the commonest
feelings of humanity, it would not be a mutter of
i soundp,,u
enedosi, o isnhyi ll i ogs, and pencebywhich a great pecuniary
would be obtained,
to effect • a total change in the present system.Nl ir.
PEARSON says—..“ If the Legislature would combine
courage with prudence, and would '
provide instead of
prisons, asylums in which those a
of value to t unfortunates could be
dri'ledanldisciplined in-hard work, suitableso th eirage
and strengh, and where they could, at the t m
receive appropriate instruction, combined withae time'
moral
f
and religious training, they would become in a
life good labourers and servants, good soldiers and
good sailors, or good colonis, L
tsne
nation, equal in amount to the sum they cost the
nation under the present system." Why, then,
should an experiment from which such happy results
may fairly be looked for, remain untried ? The
present state of the law relating to minors is a perfect
anomaly, as a young man of nineteen or twenty years
of age, fully educated, and who ought in every respect
to be responsible for his actions, may incur debts,
and obtain the property of tradesmen with perfect im-
punity—he may be possesred of considerable property,
and have all the ability to pay, and yet he will be
justified in treating his creditors with contumely, and
i. t
in wholly refusing any satisfaction for the contracts
which he may have entered—he may laugh at
their folly, and many an honest tradesman may have
to bewail li.
lis misplaced confideuce • but let an
unhappy child, of ten or
eleven '
years, purloin a few
apples, or in any degree bring himself within the
operation of the criminal code, and forthwith he is
committed to pat, tiog ed
publicly or privately, 1
according to the whim ofg the
presidingand his ruin for life unhesitatingly magistrate,
decided on, Children of that ace are not theqti
for penal infliction; they do not understand
cause of their punishment, they
tng objects
suffer the
and on their release are more ready thanit'
ever to plunge into new crimes, to become the
tools and instruments of more experienced and
hardened offenders. Such things should not be sanc-
tioned or permitted in an enlightened, a Christian
country. Those who have no parents to direct them to
fitter pursuits should he looked on as the children of
the State. and have extended to them that. parental
care of which they are deprived. 1 hose who, on the
other hand, have parents who neglect their na:.uralciuty
should not be abazioned to ipisery and ruin, but