The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-07 00:00:00

PUBLIC OPINION.

The Herald strives hard to prove, in opposition to
the Chronicle, that the present distress of the country is
not to be attributed to the protective system. " The
Paisley stoppages," argues our Contemporary, " were
produced by the facilities given to persons of little or no
capital to carry on extensive concerns, by the local banks.
These establishments have, to preserve their own credit,
been obliged, from local causes, to withdraw this ac-
commodation,' as it is called ; their debtors, conse-
quently, suspended payments, and the industry to which
this fictitious system of creating manufactories had given
employment is thrown upon the general labour-market.
The indiscretion of the Scotch banks, and not the pro-
tective system, is then to be blamed for these disasters."
This is following in the wake of Sir R. Peel, who, rather
than accuse the monopoly or protective system of having
assisted in causing the present distress, sailed all the way
to China for an argument to prove why the country is so
embarrassed.
The Times, after attempting a lame and laboured
apology for Sir Robert Peel's reserve, immediately pro-
ceeds to neutralise its effect by showing that he has ex-
hibited little or no reserve at all ! Here are our Con-
temporary's words :—" It will be remembered that the
question of finance is nearly, if not absolutely, the sole
great question of government on which Sir Robert Peel
has not already, on morn than one occasion, very fully
explained his views. And even upon finance, the general
bearing of his opinions is sufficiently known. Apart
from the resource of borrowing, which is allowable only
as a temporary resort, there are only two systems of

supply to choose between—the old mode of making up
deficiency by taxation ; and the modern, or Post-office
plan, of raising revenue by abandoning it : and Sir Ro-
bert Peel has shown a pretty plain contempt for this
latter bubble. So far the public can have very little doubt."
The Morning Advertiser observes :—" It is quite
clear, from the tone that the leading Tory journals are
instructed to take, that, while hopes are to be encouraged
of a calm, and liberal, and expedient policy, with regard
to England, the force of the new Government and the
faction that supports it is to be mainly directed against
Ireland. No doubt Stanley's Bill is to be re-introduced
with immediate measures to repress disturbance. Upon
this subject Peel can calculate on a larger majority
than on any other. Hence he is likely to begin with
it, first, to exhibit his strength in the Commons, and,
secondly, to crush, if possible, the greatest concentrated
power opposed to him. There are many prejudices
against Ireland, and more against O'Connell personally.
Of these he proposes to take advantage ; and should he
succeed, he will flatter himself that this " rock a-head
to all Administrations," will be battered down to compa-
rative safety. To enable him to accomplish this grand
object, troops from all quarters will be ordered into Ire-
land." To pour troops into Ireland will only be pouring
oil on the flame that already rages in that country.
The time is past for any such experiment to be made
with safety.
The Morning Post commences its first leading ar-
ticle in these terms :---" We find that all the Journals
which support the defeated Ministerial party—without a
single exception, so far as we have seen—report with a
scarcely concealed exultation the gloomiest circumstances

regarding the public condition of this country. They
actually rejoice in the prospect of the country's em-
barrassments, because difficulties will thereby be
thrown in the way of those statesmen who possess
the confidence of large majorities in both Houses of
Parliament. The very aspect of the weather, with
its clouds and storms, so unseasonable for the ripen-
ing and gathering-in of the crops, affords satisfac-
tion to these high-minded political partisans. What
care they for peace and plenty throughout the country?
They only seek to have their party in power. What is it

to them that poverty and distress may fall upon millions
of the people, and perhaps drive them in their despair to
violence and outrage ? They care nothing for the mi-
sery; they only consider how it may promote their party
views." This is a malicious perversion of the truth, urged
with the very same party views that the Post reprobates
in its Liberal Contemporaries. If the distress of the coun-
try has been insisted on, it has been done in the vain
hope that Sir Robert Peel would hasten to set men's
minds at ease, by at least giving them a hope of some
speedy and efficient remedy. But he proposed no remedy,
because most probably he has none, but will be guided
solely by expediency.

The Nottingham Review says:—"The very elements
are throwing obstacles in the way of any Tory Ad-
ministration. Let the lords of the soil say what they may,
the prospect of a deficient harvest will bring about a re-
peal of the Corn-laws. Lord F. Egerton, and other Tory
Peers, are calculating upon this, and therefore we bear
of new troops, of yeomanry cavalry to keep down the
working classes and compel them to starve, be quiet,
and die ! A pretty prospect this for those who have
unnaturally supported the Tories at the late elections ;
they will bitterly repent it yet."
The Sherborne Journal, alluding to the present
crisis, observes as follows :—" Never, perhaps, in the
history of this country; did a greater necessity exist
for calm and dispassionate inquiry, and for prac-
tical and immediate legislation. The. Conservatives
must lay aside their triumphant bOastingi, and see to
it that they are not, as it were, rejoicing and dancing
on a barrel of gunpowder ; and the Whigs must rid
themselves of the fretful feelings of disappointed love of
power and place, and both unite in applying themselves
to measures of practical relief—measures with which
party politics have really nothing to do—measures cal-
culated to unlock the springs of industry, which appear
now to be frozen up."

riLONET—TRADE—COVIDIZZCZ.
The woollen trade in Ireland is again in a very de-
pressed condition. The accounts from the neighbour-
hood of Kilkenny are most disheartening.
A large assortment of lead ore has been lately for-
warded home from a lead mine newly discovered in the
Mount Lofty range in South Australia. The quantity
of silver contained in the ore is fifteen ounces per ton,
and of lead about 85 per cent.

SPORTING.
The championship of the Thanes will be contested
this day. The Cambridge against the Leander Club.
The Leander boat is pink within, with a streak, and the
oar-blades vermilion. The Cambridge boat is lilac
within, and the oar-blades light blue.