The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-07 00:00:00

AN EMPIRE WITHOUT AN

EMPRESS.
A curious pamphlet has just appeared (without
printer's or publisher's name), partly devoted to the
question, " Why should we not have an Empress ?" It
afterwards proceeds to the far more important one, of
" Why should we not have a new currency law ?"
The following are quotations, however, from the Srst
portion of this brochure, which contains, amidst all
its oddity, some interesting facts and some original
thoughts :
" I recollect, soon after her Majesty's accession, I
read of some proceediegs in the Court of Queen's
Bench, and on inquiry I learned that our wise men
had thought it consi-tent and proper to alter the
King's Bench to the Queen's Bench, in consequence
of the sovereign being a female. Of course I ex-
pected we were in future to be the 'United Queen-
dum of Great Britain and Ireland.' The alteration,
however, has not yet been made, and I think it was
rather ridiculous to alter the one and not the other.
My Countrymen—Do not be alarmed that I am
going to propose the alteration now ; I am flying my
falcon at higher game, both for her Majesty, and the
country, and hope to strike my quarry; for I feel
that we do not now take our legitimate rank (as re-
gards name) among the nations of the earth.
" Let. us compare her Majesty's diadem with some
of the great ones of the earth—Russia, France, Aus-
tria, Prussia, America, China.
" Take Russia, with its enormous 7,000,000 square
miles of half barren Siberian territory, and its
50,000,000 population (but its largest rivers emptying
themselves into the Frozen Ocean), and contrast it
with Queen Victoria's dominions ; as large, vastly
more fertile, and with a population approaching two
hundred millions. But Russia is consistently an em-
pire governed by an Emperor; while we remain a
kingdom governed by a Queen. Take Austria, with
its 260,000 square miles, and under 40,000,000 inha-
bitants • but Austria takes first rank, while we are
but a inha-
bitants;
or Queendom, I must appeal to our
wise men to say which is most proper.
"Take France under 250,000 square miles, and
population something like 35,000,000; yet France
has been an Empire, and I see no reason why she
should not be again.
"Prussia has our good wishes, with its 107,000
square miles, and 14,000,000 population ; but I need
nut stay to make a comparison.
"The United States are powerful, and will be more
so if they hold together; but it is their pleasure to
be a republic, and therefore fur my purpose it is use-
less to make a contrast.

" The last is China, an enormous empire, of about
our own extent and population ; but when we recol-
lect that, some years back, a few of our ships and a few
thousand men shook this great empire to the centre ;
I may be excused a further comparison.
I have seen a statement, that our foreign mili-
tary and naval stations confer a power on the empire
equal to a million of men under arms ;' but it is not
that consideration, nor yet our extent of territory
and population which should alone influence us. 11
consider Queen Victoria's diadem has brighter
gems. It is our powers of production, to an un-
rivalled extent, our commerce, and the name
we have attained for straightforwardness and probity,
that constitute the power of this country--it is such
sacrifices to principle as paying twenty millions for
the abolition of slavery that gives us our rank as first
among the nations of the earth; and yet we are so
humble, or so careless, that we are still merely a
kingdom, with the anomaly of being without a King,
and governed by a Queen in her own right.
"My Countrymen,—Any person may see clearly
that we have outgrown the dimensions of a kingdom.
It has become familiar both to us and foreigners to
speak of the British Empire. One portion only of
her Majesty's dominions is always spoken of as our
Indian Empire. In speaking of the Legislature,
men also say Imperial Parliament—the newspapers
usually head the reports of the debates with those
words ; and numerous examples might be given to
prove that we have outgrown the title of kingdom,
and cannot avoid taking. the highest rank ; that
we are, de facto, an Empire, although we still con-
tinue to risk our jaws and waste our paper with the
long, impolitic, and almost impracticable title of 'the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland' (we
ought consistently to add, and Canada, and India,
and Australia, and half a dozen other places?) I say -
it-is an impolitic title ; for what we want is, that
the integral parts of the empire should forget, as
quickly as posssible, that they have ever been dis-
united, or that there has ever been any assumption of
superiority. Besides, long names are bad, and are
certain to he curtailed, and in this case, the usual
curtailment is British Empire, or only England; and
even diplomatists use the expression her Britannic Ma-
jesty. The first seems natural, and befits the case ;
the second is improper ; for although England is the
centre of power and seat of government, it has no
right to represent the whole empire.
"It is useless to attempt to untie this ridiculous
knot; the better plan is to cut it. I propose that the
subjects of her Majesty, in all parts of the world,
should,at some future time, approach the throne simulta-
neously by means of addresses, intimating their wish
that, as a mark of their regard and esteem, her
Majesty should signalise her reign and the vast de-
velopment of the power and resources of her domi-
nions, by assuming the imperial dignity. I consider
that it will be more graceful and phasing that it
,hould appear to be the wish and request of her sub-
jects than that her Majesty should appear to assume
the title of her own will.
e I would go into this matter in a spirit of fairness,
and at once place it on a broad and liberal basis,
suited for ages to come. I would consider any por-
tion of the world under the shadow of the British
flag to be an integral portion of the British empire
(observe how naturally the term British empire reads).
Any man, whether an Englishmin, Scotchman, Irish-
mate Canadian, Australian, or Bengalee, should be a
Briton, or speaking collectively, British. I would have
a male Sovereign an Emperor of Britain, and his wife
Empress as usual; but I consider that a different
name, and one expressive of hereditary dignity, is
rquired to designate a female Sovereign reigning in
her own right. I would coin a new name for
the purpoie of three syllables to correspond with the
male title, and equally analogous to the word Empire.
1 think the title of Empresine (pronounced zeen)
(Victoria, Empresine of Britain), would suit the case
as well as any; but this would he best left to her
Majesty's choice. Of course the Royal Family would
assume the title of Imperial Highness; hut I protest
against any of them being created Dukes ; that
should be reserved as the first title of honour for the
subject The Royal or Imperial Family should be
Princes, and that title should not be extended to a
subject. The Princedom of Wales is too dear to our
history to be parted with; and why not the Prince of
York, or the Prince of Kent P"
Square miles. Population.
British Possessions (about) 7,000,000 200.000,000
Russian Empire
Austrian Empire
France
Prussia .• • .
China .. 7,000,000 200,000,000

We regret exceedingly to announce the decease of
the Lady Jane Peel, wile of the Right lion. W. Yates
Pe 1, M.P., who expired somewhat suddenly on Sunday
last, at Bag(nton Hall, the family seat, in Warwick-
shire,

linentn g
pti" roooeynrNe
de ), a spirited
THE TT
urolulsOltinS
and
hum-L.
i
Newcastle
of
Berwick Railway, by which the comparative
fairly
tested.
cEidVentSTocEcA:rire—d Aon
the horse and the locomotive engine
%castle, and
fewthedays ago
satireat
when near Chat hill (a paarretwhich Messrs.
M.Kay, the.contrtaoctis.oiress,srs.
m.Kay,
As the engine No. 137 waossfreitoihimeei
whether from fright
horse belonging
addenl set off at full speed in front of the
or frolic,
whichs
was going at the rate of thirty miles an
hour. The
Te driver of the engine, fearful of the conse-
quences, eased the engine, and endeavoured, by frequent
shrill whistles, to drive the animal off the line, but in
vain; for a full mile or more the horse held on his way
with unabating speed. At length the engine coming
rather close upon him, the animal darted on to the
parallel line, and, as if determined not to be beaten, still
proceeded, and rushed once more in front cf the erg'.ne.
At this point the horse had run nearly three miles, and
the driver, finding himself delayed, resolved to pass his
opponent at all risks, and, increasing the speed of the
engine, soon came close upon his quarters, when the
animal bounded aside, and kicked up its heels as the
train pasted, to the great amusement of the driver,
stoker, anti several of the passengers. The entire dis-
tance which the horse ran with the traia was about four
miles.—Berwick Warciir:
SCHOOL OF ABT.---A. School of Art for artists and
amateurs has been formed by the Incorporated Society_
of British Artists. The arrangements having been all
completed, it will be open to its members in the early
part of next month. The school will be principally sup-
ported by subscriptions and donations.
RE OrENING OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM.—This
Natienal Museum, having b. en
closed ti,r the usual
the public to morrow
:invited period, will be re op:ne dto
(Wednesdsv). aid
"jil
(""'f"leaNlen every bitecessive
Monday. Wednesday. and Fri ,rom ten to four.
_ .
ANAGEMENT—AND
SPADE CULTURE—GOoD M
LARGE YIELD OF 1,% HEAT.—The di areess of eotatees
for seed last season caused many poor labour, rs having
.
allotments from 10 to 40 !UT, of
.ground, in the parish of
Ading:,,n, near Westbury, Vrilts, to sow their plots
,i:h win at in the autumn, where, by suiserior manaee-
merit, digging. and k-eping the land free from weeds,
many have gathered at the rate 111 from 14 to 18 sacks
.rf -wheat ler acre. One man, with 40 lug, had 4 sacks,
2 bushels; another, with 20 lug, 2 sacks, and so on; thus
fully showing that land, divided into small farms and
better managed, might be made to yield much more Matt
it does at the present time. -
It has been wisely said, " There be as many
miseries-beyond riches as on this side of them." I have
a rich neighbour who is so busy that !mites na leisure,
ro laugh. God knows that the carts, which are the
keys that keep those rich, s, hang often so heavily at the
rich man's girdle, that they 'clog him with weary days
and restless nights, when %hut; :kg' q14411P-484a9
Wo4its •