The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-15 00:00:00

1.6.111) j'ALMER'SVON'S EA§fERN

POLICY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,--I much regret to fi3d that the very able and
independent editor of The Sun not cnly withholds his
unqualified support from Lord. Palmerston in regard
to the Eastern question, but seems, by his article in
Tuesday's paper, to imagine that Minister a dupe to
Russia!

A little reflection will convince you, Sir, that Russia
has no distinct interest in the plan of the Treaty of
July 15. The tffect of that Treaty is to increase the
power of the Sultan, and of course renders him a less
easy prey to Russian ambition. Moreover, it deve-
lopes and concentrates a great British and Austrian
force to balance any force of Russians employed in
carrying the Treaty into effect. And if it be necessary
to use the latter, such force is diverted from the Cir-
cassian war, and the weight of Russia pro Canto dimin-
ished. The obvious policy of that Power was, to leave
Mehemet undisturbed ; that while he distracted the
attention of and rnenaced the Sultan, Russia might,
unopposed, proceed in crushing Circassia, and then fall
on Turkey. France so fully felt this, that she courted
Russia in Mc first instance, having, doubtless, a secret
wide:standing with Mehemet, who was to be a French
tool. The skilful diplomacy of Lord Palmerston dis-
arranged this pretty plot. He united Austria and
Prussia with England to protect the Sultan, and Russia
deemed it better to join the league, ostensibly, than
lose a voice in the arrangement, or throw itself into a
war which it could ill afford to wage.
In effect England and France aimed at opposite ob-
jects—the fcrmcr to strengthen Turkey as a make-
weight in the balance of Europe—France to weaken it,
that she might have an useful tool in Mehemet, in her
favourite object of making the Mediterranean a French
lake.

Lord Palmerston has beaten Thiers—the good cause
has prevailed over the bad, and Franco is enraged.
Here is a short explanation of the whole matter.
As to the humbug of being affronted because, after
having fifty times refused our offers, we got tired, and
did not sly on the fifty-first, " Now, if you don't accept
what you have so often refused, we shall act without
you," it is all humbug ! France knew we should so
act, and is wroth that four great Powers don't bow to
one. She is altogether wrong, and must fight or leave
it alone, as she pleases. Yours ever,
Oct. 14, 1840.

R. M.

ST. PANCRAS PARISH.

TO 7'llE EDITOR OF TIIE SUN.
Sia,—A letter relating to the affairs of this parish
having appeared in your impression of Monday's date,
I trust you will allow me, in the spirit of fair play, as
"One of the directors of the poor," to reply thereto.
Surely it is benesth the dignity of a just cause to de•
scend so low i❑ petty invective ; and it truth cannot be
sustained without the application of scurrilous epithets
applied to men by one of their own hod), such charges,
to reflecting minds, must rest but on a very sorry
foundation.

It is perhaps a curse or a blessing that the men who
have been elected annually by their fellow rate-payers
for the last seven years, and who really conduct the
affairs of this great parish, have been for a considerable
time without a leader ; that is, in plain terms, a cunning
man, working for himself: The directors have, accord-
kg to their ability, used their best efforts to promote
the general good of all parties concerned, steering be-
tween the extremes of party, yet adhering strictly to
principle—working out that great principle which finds
an existence in our laws from the earliest period of our
history—l mean the great principle of self-government
—yielding to all who may feel disposed an easy access to
their meetings—holding no private assemblies—and
publishing half-yearly accounts of their expenditure,
which are supervised by rigid and honest auditors, who,
for the last seven years, have been faithful servants of
the public trust.
Under these circumstances, I blush for that man
who could apply to men whom be knows arc honest,
and with whom he sits down to dinner (for I must pre-
sume he has done so) in the cordiality of friendship,
such insinuations as he has made use of in his letter.
How is it, permit me to ask him, that these crimes were
not discovered long ere this ; the authorities of St. Pan-
' eras have had innumerable opponents to contend against,
but never, by the most determined of those opponents,
were they ever assailed in terms like those he has in his
wisdom thought proper to make use of.
Admitting the parish to be in debt (say in round
numbers to a sum amounting to nine thousand pounds),
would it not have been but fair in our honourable and
highly gifted colleague to have brought to our credit
the outstanding amount of the present rate now in the
course of collection, as an asset likely to produce up-
wards of twenty thousand pounds ? No ; this would
not have answered his purpose ; his object was to vilify
and asperse better men in every respect than himself. I
do not mean in worldly wealth, but I mean in conduct,
in morals, in fact in every attribute that distinguishes
the HONEST MAN FROM THE KNAVE.

Let Ili compare the present expenditure of the parish
with the amount actuAy expended the first year of the
adoption of the Vestries :pct. In the sear ending 31st
Dec., 1832, the gross amount was 71,066/., and at that
period we were indebted to the banker 9,5001., with a
rate on the inhabitants amounting to nearly double the
present one. The annual expenditure for the last year,
11 ending the 24th June, 1840, amounts to 58,4531. with
a loan due to our banker of 2,000/., and a balance in his
hand to meet this of 2,734/. 125., and which loan was
liquidated prior to the directors going out of office for
the annual election ; and I trust we shall be able to
pro►e to the world a like result when we shall retire
from office in May next. 1 beg to band you, for your
perusal, the accounts of the last year as a verification of
the facts I have stated.

I think, Sir, this will be, to every candid mind, an
entire refutation to infamous charges preferred against
the directors, and I will venture to assert that, on a
comparison with our neighbours, no other parish, as re-
gards management and finance, presents so favourable
an aspect in their affairs.
In conclusion, as regards myself, I will thus publicly
declare that I entered not the 'Vestry with a view to
' any private emolument—that I never supported any in-
dividual from interested motives—and that but for the
letter under discussion, and the charges contained in it,
I do not think I should have ever entered it again, as
personalities and quarrelling are alike repugnant to my
nature.

1 am, Sir, Your most obedient servant,
RICHARD FRESTON BRETTINGHAY
69, Uunion-street, St. Pancras, Oct. 14.

GERMAN Y.

BERLIN, OCT. B.—lt may be interesting to you to
learn on unquestionable authority, that the Prussian
Government is much displeased at the news of the out-
lawry of Mehemet Ali by the Porte. The Ministry has
expressed its dissatisfaction without reserve, and with
the observation that it could have wished that the good-
will of Mehemet Ali to make concession had been made
use of, thus opening further am'cable negotiations. The
Prussian Ambassador at Constantinople is said to have
received a sharp reprimand for being led to accede to this
extreme measure of the Porte, instead of doing its ut-
nsost to prevent it. We hear that the Austrian Cabinet
fully coincides in this opinion, and it is therefore hoped
that fresh negotiations will be entered into, and some
means found to revoke the decree of deposition issued
against the Viceroy. The Prussian Government is said
to be not averse to acting as mediator. Lord Ponsonby,
the originator of the decree of deposition is said to ex-
cuse his conduct by saying that he believed the Allied
Powers had not the right to commence hostilities against
Mehemet Ali till be had been declared a rebel, and de-
posed from his Viceroyalty ; and the first condition of
the execution of the treaty of July 13 has been fulfilled•