The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-12 00:00:00

to believe than that the waters of the earth rise
from the attraction of the moon, and follow her
course in the heavens.
We fear, however, that neither the voice of
philosophy nor of science will avail with our
rent-owners, for they have already re-
sisted the more urgent and powerful demands of
humanity and justice. Supposing it proved that
the landlords are responsible for any evil caused
by a wet season and a late harvest, their respon-
sibility will not extend beyond what at present
rests on them. They are accused of causing po-
verty, crime, and death, and a heavier catalogue
of offences cannot be found.

At the Guildhall yesterday, no less than four
individuals were brought before Mr. Alderman
KELLY, who committed offences for the mere
purpose of gaining the temporary shelter of a
station-house, and the chance of a crust of
bread. Crime, therefore, is better off in
England than poverty. To be entitled to pro-
tection, shelter, and food, a man must be a
criminal. Such a fact, though there were only
one in a year, instead of crowding upon us four
in a day, would be an unerring indication that
our legislation requires revision.
The process of debasement and degradation
seems to be this : scarcity of employment and
scarcity of food, as they are felt in class after
class, make one class press down on the other,
and squeeze out the lowest to utter destitu-
tion. Amongst the humble classes there is
a great deal of charity; they help each other;
but when all find it difficult to live, they are
obliged to deny succour to the most distressed,
who are driven to commit offences that they may
drag oul their miserable existence a few days or
weeks longer. We are much afraid that the
misery which thus forces itself into public notice
bears only a very small proportion to that which
hides itself and perishes in obscurity. We are
much afraid, too, that reckless despair in-
stead of blithe and careful hope is becom-
ing-, from continual disappointment, the
prevalent disposition of our people; and that
those who deny them bread and a fair field for
their exertions, will have to answer, not only
for starving many out of existence, but for the
moral debasement of all.

Ours is a curious system. On the one hand we
call for schools and education, and stimulate the
mind of the people to unwonted activity;
on the other we enact laws to restrain en-
terprise, to bind down genius, and prevent
those who have been trained to exertion from
finding a reasonable mode of exercising their
talents. If the present system of hemming in
enterprise by laws be continued, it will be cruel
to continue, at the same time, the system of
training the mind of youth to activity. If men
are not to have free trade, and free scope for their
activity, the whole political system should be
adapted to that, and all mental activity should
be nipped, not fostered, in children. At present.
we train them to be emulous and ambitious
competition at school prepares them for compe-
tition in life, and, when they are ripe for exer-
tion, they find themselves walled in by restric-
tions, and unable to move. They cannot get
bread by honest labour, and they steal or break
the public lamps, as the least offence they can
be guilty of, to ensure them a week's lodging in
a gaol.

The following letter, copied from the Times,
and inserted in that journal in large type, with-
out any date—and after the former letter on the
same subject with the same signature has been
described by more than one of our Contem-
poraries as the produce of Printing-house-
square—must be taken to speak the sentiments of
the editors of the Times, and is worthy of notice
as an index to their and to public opinion:~