The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-03 00:00:00

IM ning -Atit

LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1847.

Protectionist consistency has long been the derision
of the multitude. Protectionist candour and fair
dealing will now be the abhorrence of those who are
the possessors of the elective franchise. Lord GEORGE
BEI4TINCR. has displayed very conspicuously his in•
capacity to continue the leader of any party in the
House of Commons raising the most shadowy claim
to political respectability. Last evening the garb of
statesmanship so recently assumed by the Noble Lord
the Member for Lynn was shown, more glaringly
than ever, to be already threadbare. By the time of
the dissolution it will be hanging about his shoulders
in tatters. The thinness, the poverty, the moral
squalor of that cloak were yesterday revealed before
the eyes of the whole country in the broad
glare of Lord GEORGE BENTINCICS shuffling
and prevaricating egotism. Instead of battling man-
fully for tha furtherance of his own particular views,
with the weapons of logic—instead of striving to
command the adoption of his own particular prin-
ciples, by an earnest perseverance and a forcible
enuinf ration of arguments—instead of leading on the
ranks of As Opposition, with the gallant bearing of

a plain-spoken politician, Lord GEORGE endeavours to
thwart the purposes of the Cabinet, and to embarrass
the condition of Parliament, by an ignoble subter-
fuge, and a discourteous disregard of the common
usages of the House. Stung by the majority in
favour of Lord MORPET/I'S sanatory measure, the ,
representative of Lynn tried to worst the
intentions of the Administration by abruptly
calling upon the SPEAKER to count the House
before the adjournment from four o'clock till
five, P.M. Supposing this insidious and paltry
trick had succeeded, the Health of Teivons Bill must
have been retarded, and a day u.Aust necessarily
have been lost to public busineF,s. Lord GEORGE
BENTINCK would have vnade one step towards burking
a measure .which lawghs open, antagonism to scorn ;
he would have killeid a certain
portion of the tiff je
which is just now so precious to the empire,
and, he
would, thaugh in a very trumpery ar.d coPtel.nptible
manner., have thrown the arrangem',nts of the House
of Cornmons into a temporary 'state of confusion.
Had the Noble Lord succeedfA, he would have
craved exultingly at his barn-3 and prowess, but we
-are satisfied the public would have regarded his petty
success with indignation. fis it is, Lord GEORGE
BENTINCK has failed deplorably; the partially sepa-
rated Members rallied at tile attempted count out, and
the Member for Lynn w'ss compelled to satisfy him-
self with the barren credit of having in vain violated
the implied, if not ey.pressed, rules of the House of
Commons.

These incidents. must inevitably "tell" at the
general election. The constituencies will be no better
able to forget hr,w the nominal leader of the Protec-
tionists propo°.ed to appease the famine in Ireland by
laying dowr. so many miles of cold iron in the shape
of ItailvJads, than they can lose a recollection
of his abortive effort at counting the House out, in
the hope of strangling the Health of Towns Bill, and
. ' embarrassing the close of the present Parliamentary
session. The fantastic tricks of Lord GEORGE BEN-
TINCK will survive as vividly in the recollection of
• the country as the memorable taunts of Mr. ROE-
BUCK to Young Ireland, as the masterly elucidation
of British interference in Portugal by Mr. 31,1.•
CAULAY, or as the beautiful and impassioned panegyric
pronounced upon the Liberator by the eloquent lips
of Mr. SHELL. But those celebrated speeches will
redound to the honour of Mr. SIIEIL, of Mr. MA-
CAULAY, and of Mr. ROEBUCK, while the proceedings
of Lord GEORGE BENTINCK can only render him in
4.he public estimation both culpable and ridiculous.
Nothing could be more suggestive of the different
merits of the Protectionists and the present Govern-
ment. While the leader of the Cabinet is making
every exertion to hasten the progress of the Health of
Towns Bill through Parliament, the leader of the
Agricultural Monopolists is striving to quash that
measure altogether, or, at the least, to procrastinate
the period of its enrolment on the statute-book. The
Prime Minister takes the social necessities of his
countrymen into serious consideration. The repre-
sentative of Lynn considers only the possibility of
thwarting a Government of which he is not a portion,
no matter whether by so doing he endangers the
health or the happiness of the community.
Although we cannot possibly regard the Bill intro-
duced by Lord MORPETH as other than a preliminary
to some more bold and comprehensive measure, and
although we are especially disappointed at the omis-
sion of London from the influence of the proposed
enactment, we are grateful to the Cabinet for the
ardour evinced in behalf of the neglected million by
hurrying through Parliament a measure of a charac-
ter so peculiarly generous and benevolent. The
channels are being dug—before long the waters wi
irrigate the moral wilderness of the population.

The courts-martial which have just taken place at
Portsmouth on two of the officers of the Lily will
be perused with considerable interest. They strongly
illustrate the position which may be assumed towards
his subordinates by a captious commander, and the
utter impossibility for even the most zealous and
efficient in the discharge of duty to escape from the
multitudinous snares and pitfalls by which he is sur-
rounded, if his superior should wish to make him a
victim, and to sacrifice his professional prospects.
They also exhibit the strong reliance that must hare
been placed on the well-known feeling of naval
courts-martial to support the commanding officer in
every instance, and under almost any circum-
stances. No person who was not thoroughly
satisfied of the extent of that feeling, and
the extraordinary lengths to which it has been
carried, would have dared to suspend his brother
officer from duty and to keep him under arrest for
so long a period as seventeen months, on charges
such as those which were preferred, and supported
by such ridiculously trifling evidence as that which
was brought forward to sustain them. For once we
are rejoiced to find that the system has received a
check. A judgment has been pronounced in the
case of Lieutenant BRANCH that we trust will have
no trifling effect in henceforward preserving deserv-
ing and meritorious officers from persecution such as

he has encountered, in proving to tyrannical com-
manders that there is a limit which they cannot
transgress, and that so long as their junior officer
discharges with propriety the duties of his station, so
long will he be protected, although he might have
had the misfortune to incur the animosity of
the despot under whom he is placed. The Court not
only fully and honourably acquitted Lieutenant
BRANCH, but declared the charges to be frivolous and
vexatious, and the President, at the conclusion of the
proceedings, stated " that he was directed by the
Court to express the pleasure they felt in returning a
sword of which he had been so long and so unjustly
deprived."

In the present case Lieutenant BRANCH Was most
fortunate in being enabled to produce the highest
testimonials as to his character and ability,
alike creditable to him as an officer and a gentleman,

trom a number of most distinguished officers under
whom he had served from his first entrance into the
navy. He was fortunate in being able to produce
direct evidence to establish the real facts as they oc-
curred on each of the three occasions which were
definitively fixed on by his accuser in support of the
rather vague charge " that he was on several occasions
between the 9th day of October, 1845, and the 11th
day of May, 1846, highly insubordinate and disre-
spectful to his superior officer." Here was, indeed,
a wide margin, more than six months, out of which
to discover any instance of what might be tortured
into disrespect or insubordination. In our civil tri-
bunals it would be considered most unfair to require
a prisoner to answer such uncertain accusations. He
should know clearly and explicitly what it was that he
was called on to rebut and disprove, the specific instances
of misconduct should be fully set forth, but there is
no such protection for the party brought to a court-
martial ; he cannot know what will be produced
against him until it is actually given in evidence, and
consequently he may be wholly taken by surprise,
and unable to establish his innocence, as he might
have done, if fully apprised of the particulars about
to be brought against him.
Mr. YOUNG, late master of the Lily, was less for-
tunate than his brotherofficer.
st instance,
LT nhappialyndforbehfoirme
his trial took place in
the Court was fully aware of
asw evidencedht
in the fol-
his commander
considered to be disrespectful,
lowing case, and while yet hiscredit
True it was that he succeeded n disproving of the i was unshaken.
most Weighty of the charges made against him for the
transaction of the 21st April. Ile established by the
evidence of his brother officers that his commander
was in error in asserting that he was in any degree
inebriatedisoenly. onac theutsendto cheniamos His commanding officer
had
autfaatl
witness
whichwas
presentw.a s cap
interview in the cabin. The commander asserted
that he was drunk and disrespectful ; it was
to use the mildest language, that he was proved,mistaken
ahauntocorro-
the first part of the charge, and
yet
hisin
capable
et
the
borated assertion is suffered to prevail,
ruin
and blight the prospects of a meritorious
officer. In our law courts, where a witness
NYvaosu7o fully contradicted in one part of his statement, but
little credence would be attached to the residue.
When the severe and arduous character of the double
duties which Mr. YOUNG had been called Upon to
per
-form, • arid the indisp,siti.)n u ;de"which he was
suffering, are taken into consideration, we call harrlly
conceive that his sinking on one occasion to sleep,
when worn out by fatigue, is sufficient in itself to
warrant so severe a sentence as that which was passed
upon him—"dismissal from her MaasTr's service."

sincerely do we hope 'that pardon may be ex-
tended . to him for that acknowledged fault, that
justic4 may be tempered with mercy, and that our
navy- • may not be deprived of the services of a gentle-
man who appears to have conducted himself since he
join le,d, with that one exception, in a manner highly
cry 2ditable to himself, and such as to merit and receive
th a approbation of the several officers under whom he
w as placed.

We are fully aware of the absolute necessity of a
sq ;rict adherence to discipline, and that an inviolable
r espect should be observed towards every superior
f dicer; but the independence and manliness of cba-
tacter should be preserved. Our officers should not
be turned into cringing slaves in the earlier part of
their career, or into tyrannical autocrats in the later.
And essential as it is to preserve the greatest subor-
dination in the former, it is still more essential to re-
press anything like tyranny or oppression in the
lat ter. We trust that the cases which have just oc-
curred will not be lost sight of by the authorities,
but that advantage may be ultimately derived from
them, and that all officers may be impressed with the
idea that they owe a duty to their juniors and the
men placed under their charge, no less important
than that which they are bound to render to their
superiors.

News from Greece up to the 20th ultimo inclu-
sively has been received by the Levant mail.
Satisfaction is expressed by the Moniteur Grec,
at the circumstance that a prospective reconciliation
is visible in the intelligence just then arrived from
Constantinople. Without placing any implicit re-
liance upon the sincerity of Prince METTERNICH in
the negotiation of a peace-making between the
Sublime Porte and King OTHO, the Government
organ is rejoiced at the probable termination of this
deplorable misunderstanding.
Every one interested in the political position of the
kingdom was alert when the intelligence started
respecting the approaching elections ; and no incon-
siderable chagrin was expressed by the Athens
Courier at the unconstitutional efforts being made
by COLETTI and his colleagues to bias the people in
favour of their own particular candidates. The spirit
of faction was running high, and the evil influences
of that spirit were being exaggerated through the
instrumentality of the French representative.

Accounts from Constantinople to the 17th ultimo,
bring little more of interesting news respecting the
arrangements about to be effected between the Otto-
man Porte and the King of GREECE.
News had reached the capital from Kurdistan of the
most disastrous character, declaring that the Turks
had suffered a loss of either 3,000 or 4,000 men in a
conflict with the marauding mountaineers. Van was
described as garrisoned by a large body of the rebels,
under BEDERHAN BET, and it was believed that
that stronghold could not be wrenched from their
possession saving by a most sanguinary bombard-
ment.

Our intelligence from Madrid is up to the 26th
ultimo.

According to the Correo the Cortes will not be
convoked before the ensuing Oct3ber. The same
journal states' that a compromise has been effected
with the Bank of San Fernando, whereby the ad-
vances recently made to the Government will be in a
great measure rendered secure. •

While the Faro has repeatedly asserted that the
misunderstanding between her MAJESTY and the
KING-CONSORT has been sedulously aggravated for
their own benefit by members of the Administration,
the Union, an organ of the Cabinet, protests that, on
the contrary, the Government have used every device
they eould conjecture for the purpose, if possible, of
removing all impediments to a permanent and speedy
reconciliation—without effect, of course, without the
feeblest glimmering of effect.

The reports that Don FRANCISCO, the uncle of her
Most Catholic MAJESTY, was about to leave the capital
appear to be dying away; and all the mysterious in-
ferences deduced therefrom are disappearing in like
manner.

The Three per Cents. were done at 30 for cash
the Five per Cents. at 17k; the Debt without Interest al
5-i; and the Coupons at 15.

Paris papers of Thursday have been duly received.
" We lately announced," says the Presse, "on the
authority of the Semaphore of Marseilles, that Ms.-
lIOMET Am would this year visit Italy ; we learn,
however, that the Viceroy has renounced this inten-
tion."

'Wednesday next, the 7th instant, is definitively
fixed for the trial of General CUBIERES and his pre-
sumed accomplices. As the acte d'accusation was
transmitted to the four individuals accused on the
Thursday by the Court of Peers, and as the custo-
mary time permitted them by the law before they are
compelled to plead is the interval of five days, the
trial must positively be delayed until Wednesday.
The second ballot for the three candidates for the
fourth arrondissement of Paris has been as unproduc-
tive of a termination to the contest as the preceding
one. According to the pre-announced arrangement
that second ballotting took place on Wednesday, the
number of rotes being 843—fifteen less than on the
foregoing afternoon. M. FLANDIN having retired
as we announced yesterday, the ballotting was as
follows : 369 for M. MALGAIGNE fifty-two
more than on Tuesday-258 for M. BERTRAND—
twenty-nine more than on Tuesday ; and 214 for
M. IfortAcE SAY—being only seventeen more than
on Tuesday. M. SAY had consequently retired. A
third ballot between the two remaining candidates
had taken place on Thursday, but the result was not
declared before the departure of our dispatches.
The debate in the Chamber of Peers was continued
on Wednesday, on the Medical Reform Bill, and
would possibly be brought to a conclusion on Friday.
It is stated that the following are among the most
remarkable and conspicuous provisions of the Paris
and Chartres Railway Bill, as corrected by the Com-
mittee :—lt authorises the Minister of Public Works
to regulate in the following manner the repayment of
the loan of five millions made by the State to the
Versailles (Left Bank) Railway Company. To that
amount of capital will be added the interest on that
sum at 4 per cent. from the day when the money was
paid until the promulgation of the present Bill;
likewise the interest at 3 per cent. on the new
capital, from the promulgation of the present Bill
to the opening of the Chartres line, and three years
afterwards. The total thus formed shall be paid
back to the State with 3 per cent. interest, in
60 equal annual payments, from the period just stated.
This regulation, however, cannot be consented to
until after the union of the two Versailles companies
on the basis already determined on. The companies,
when united, are to lay down the iron way on
the Versailles to Chartres line, and to purchase the
working stock. Until Feb. 1, 1848, the Minister of
Public Works is authorised to concede direct to the
two Versailles companies united the Versailles to
Rennes Railway, with branch lines from Le Mans
to Caen, and from Chartres to Alen con, in con-
formity with the provisions of the Bill of June 21,
1846, with, however, the following modifications :
That the concessions shall not exceed 75 years
for both the main lines and the branches ; and
that in case the part of the Paris to Caen be-
tween Caen and Mezidon shall not be completed
when the earthworks of the branch line between
Le Mans and Mezidon shall have been finished, the
company may execute it of itself, under the surveil-
lance of the Government engineers, and shall reap all
the benefit of the working until it shall have been
paid back by the Caen Company the money so laid
out. The length of concession of the Versailles line
is to be reduced to the term fixed for the Versailles
to Rennes line, without, however, going under
seventy-five years from the period of the line between
Versailles and Chartres being fully at work.
" At the departure of the mail from Oran," says
the .31-oniteur Algerean of the 25th ult., " news had
been received of a check given by ABD-EL-KADER
to the fcrce sent against him by the Emperor of
degree
r berei n
ofg its u s
Moaocco. The nextmail
gilland o nof the doubt
the details of this sad event,usual many contradictory
importance. There are as
r,ports on the subject; one version even states that
": irocco troops had the victory. Be the fact I
moac:: ,e
re 'tiers,
tpuiecianutetliloignenheaes
ib:Lan tAakieennt:
ii:roef-;
importance.
vent such events from beim., felt in the pro. of
triTtihine
gThirnrepe :net's. closed on the Paris Bourse on Thurs-
day at 77f• 70c.; the Fiye per Ceuta.) 118 f. nc.; the Or-