The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-14 00:00:00

PUBLIC OPINION.

The Tory journals have lost much of that feeling
of exultation which butt a few weeks since set them
almost beside themselves. As the hour of trial ap-
proaches, they are beset with nervous apprehensions for
the issue, and talk of the embarrassments of Sir Robert
Peel, just as if they thought they were too great for a
statesman of his calibre successfully to grapple with.
Of such a desponding character is the following passage
which we quote from the Post:—." The Whigs, rejoice
in what ought to be their shame, because of the antici-
pated embarrassment to the Conservative Administration.
No doubt if Sir Robert Peel be made Minister, his posi-
tion will be anything but a bed 'of roses ; the Whig-
Radical mismanagement has made that certain enough.
The follies and the crimes of Whig-Radical administration
of affairs for some years past has produced such a crop of
embarrassments as must make the business of successfully
governing the country a task of the utmost difficulty,
unless a current of good fortune should set in, upon
which it would be quite unreasonable to calculate."
It is not the "follies and crimes" of the Whigs which
have occasioned the present deplorable state of things,
but the " follies and crimes " of the Tories, who opposed
almost every valuable measure that the former brought
forward. Who aggravated the discontent of Ireland,
by turning out Lord Morpeth's Registration Bill ? The
Tories. Who crushed the able plan of national edu-
cation proposed by the Whigs? The Tories. Who sup-
ported monopoly, and refused any alteration in the Corn-
laws? Still the Tories. These -are the men who, hay-
ing " sowed the wind," , are now about to " reap the
whirlwind," and have none to blame but themselves.
The Times contains an article on the subject of the
Dissenters, which betrays the odium theologicum in every
sentence. From its acrimony and uncharitableness it
might have been written by Exeter himself. Indeed it
is tainted throughout with a strong odour of
episcopacy, as will be seen by this passage :
" The elections, therefore, have clearly demonstrated the
numerical weakness of your noisy political Dissenters.
For some years past they have strutted and swaggered,
as if they constituted the great bulk of British so 7
ciety. Repeatedly have they sent their insolent behests
to Lord Melbourne by medium of a clean-shaved and
clean-shirted deputation 200 strong, pretending to be the
most influential body in the kingdom. The rank knavery
of these pretenders is now found out. Their boasted po-
litical weight, as arrogating a sufficiency of power to
sway the Parliamentary returns according to their own
heart, is discovered to be arrant humbug."
The Herald advocates the re-election of Mr. Shaw
Lefevre to the Speakership, and observes that the Duke
of Wellington is decidedly favourable to it. •` We have
understood (says our Contemporary) that an illustrious
Duke, whose good opinion is not less the seal and stamp
of excellence upon civil than upon military servants of
the public, has expressed, from the first day that the re-
cent appeal to the people was determined on, the most
emphatic interest in the Right Hon. Gentleman's re-elec-
tion, " of. which his Grace would never allow himself to
doubt."

The Chronicle remarks, in an article suggested by
the approaching Corn-law conference of Clergymen pt
Manchester:—" Clergymen, Established and Dissenting,
are praying for sunshine to dispel '
the fears excited b
111 IS ungetriarninWesitTine. Lethem pray; but let t em
also beware lest their hearts smite them for inconsis-
tency, if not hypocrisy, should they hold back from this
good work at Manchester. The bread-tax is a blight on
the world's harvests. It is the blast and shower that level
with the ground the poor labourer's hopes. Monopoly
diminishes crops and prevents harvests. Nature allows
the cultivators of a distant soil to grow corn for the ope-
rative here; their interest prompts them to do it; but
monopoly forbids. It creates an artificial barrenness
there; and a corresponding artificial scarcity here. To
pray against rain and not act against monopoly, is to
serve heaven in word and insult heaven in deed. On the
ministers of religion it devolves to vindicate her name
from this profanity."
The Advertiser says :—" The only ascertained fact
in connection with the policy of the embryo Government
of Sir Robert Peel, is that that policy is to be based on
expediency. It is to be a Government reared and main-
tained on the ruin of all fixed principle. The sliding
scale, so strenuously advocated by the expectant Premier,
in the article of corn, is to be applied to every depart-
ment of his policy. He is to vary his measures with the
ever-varying aspect of the political horizon, and the ever •
changing phases of party spirit and party practices."
Truly Sir Robert Peel is a most promising Premier for
the country. We require a Uxed principle of action on
the part of Government, and he puts us off with expe-
diency ! We demand energy, and he substitutes for
it vacillation—certainty, and he bids us rest satisfied
with suspense ! A Government carried on after this
timid, tortuous fashion cannot possibly last six months.
The following remarks are from the Plymouth Jour-
nal:—" The 'great national question is Commercial Re-
form, and on this Parliament must decide, and it will
have an early opportunity of doing so. Ministers have
nailed their colours to the mast of commercial freedom;
they will ask again the opinion of the House on this all-
important question, and if that opinion should be in
favour of restriction and injury, they will resign. No
question equals in magnitude and in pressing importance
at the present moment the alteration of the Corn-laws;
and we believe it impossible for any party or power in
Government, however united and strong, to resist its
amelioration. National necessity is a master power."
The Bath Chronicle,' speaking on the state of the
crops, says:—" The harvest accounts from the different
districts of the kingdom are very conflicting. After a
careful examination of the numerous reports which
have come under our notice, we believe the truth to be
that, though some small injury has here and there
been suffered by the crops, we may jet look for an
abundant harvest, if we should shortly be , blessed
with fine weather. In our own neighbourhood,
nothing else is required to ensure a good yield.
A fortnight of sunshine would bring the wheat in our
district to the sickle in excellent condition. If, how-
ever, the present unsatisfactory state of the atmosphere
should prevail much longer, the gloomy apprehensions
which, as we think, have been prematurely suffered to
prevail, will, in a greater or less degree, be undoubtedly
realised."

The Nottingham Review remarks, in the subjoined
terms, on the present distressed state of trade :—" With
a declining, decaying, perishing commerce, and an arti-
ficial, high-priced scarcity of bread, all produced by the
Corn-laws, the position of any Ministry coming into
power to support that whiCh is the curse of the country,
must be perilous in the extreme. The condition of
Paisley, Glasgow, Manchester, and other large manu-
facturing towns, is lamentably afflicting. Failures,
stoppages of mills, and other large establishments, are
becoming every day occurrences ; and we are grieved
to add, that Nottingham has its full share of distress."