The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-01 00:00:00

tiAr -flunz

LONDON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 1847.

----
Eighteen Hundred and Forty-six having just ex-
(FROM A CoRREfirONDENT.)
pined, and Eighteen Hundred and Forty-seven having Our columns
of Tuesday, contained two docureenta
of
extraordinary importance which have just emaeated
just commenced, we would utter a few sentences in
retrospection and in anticipation. The scroll of the from the Colonial Office. It will be in the reeol-
Ictitowards
old year unrolls itself before our scrutiny ; it is theeo of our readers that an Act was passed
.to
n close of the last session of Parliament, 9 a
blurrea with many blunders, it is blotted with vile Viet., chap. 103, by which exteeetee powers were
records that cannot be erased, it is crowded with
grotesque and villanous entries, but it comrnemo• given to her MAJESTY rot
the purpose of making
rates, nevertheless, occurrences and achievements provision for the government of the New Zealand
Islands, and conferring a Constitution on the 1, -1
sion and omission, and which will render it
which more than redeem its errors of commis-
stem of that colony. In pursuance of the authority
memorable amongst the most memorable ears
thereby granted, Earl GREY, as Chief Secretary for
of British history, and glorious amongst the
most glorious years of the history of the
the Colonies, prepared drafts of a Charter for
these islands, and also of a new commission and in-
world. The virgin scroll of the new year remains structions to the Governor, which have been submitted
yet unopened; its destinies have yet to be written.
to and approved of by her MAJESTY in Council,
At these periodical epochs of transition it is advis-
and may therefore be considered as in immediate
able to scan the whole circumference of our individual operation, at least will be, when a proclamatio . to
careers, of our national policy, of our advancement in that effect is issued by the Governor. With a prtss-
legislative reform, of our progress in knowledge, and worthy regard for the interest that must naturally ')e
of our diffusion of the ennAling principles of civilisa- felt by the members of the New Zealand Company,
. tion. In many of these particulars 1846 has been with respect to changes of so extensive a character in
most fruitful, and its fruitfulness has been most sa- the constitution of the colony in which their property
tisfactory. The national policy oK:Trcat Britain has been is embarked, his Lordship directed that cepien of
these several instruments, together with one of -'->
eminently characterised during 10G by conciliation, by
..,.
dignity, by even handedness, and, ,above all, by honesty. explanatory dispatches addressed to the Governer
New Zealand, should be transmitted to the secretary ;
With the exception of 1832, our advancement in Le-
gislative Reform has never been more brilliant or of the company. The dispatch is of great length e e
more comprehensive than during 184 i. The progres-
singular ability, fully disclosing the policy hence-
forward to be adopted, and explaining with g:,,,t. sion of knowledge, and the diffusion of civilising
principles are, on the contrary, appreciable only pros-
clearness the reasons by which his Lordship has been
pectively. In all essential respects, however, the bene-
actuated in arriving at the several conclusions. It
fits ensured, the evils dissipated, the moral and physi-
evinces a sound and perfect knowledge of the true
principles of colonial government ;and, and, far better, it cal victories obtained within the past twelve months
proves that his Lordship is thoroughly imbued with a
are marvellous and unprecedented. We will briefly
real love of liberty, and anxious to confer, to the recapitulate the circumstances that have transpired
ut-
during that interval, externally and internally, with most of his ability, the blessings of free institutions
regard to Great Britain. and self-government, so far as it is practicable, on the
Throughout the European continent, from the people, and to guard with a jealous eye against any cf
Straits of Gibraltar to the Ural mountains, there have the jobbing or favouritism that too often, indeed, we
been changes and innovations. In France the germ may say invariably, hitherto has characterised, all the
of a new discord has been fostered merely for the proceedings of an infant colony. There is, likewise,
selfish aggrandisement of the Orleans dynasty. The manifested a desire to deal with the aboriginal in-
peace of thirty-one years' duration has been habitants in a spirit of equity and justice worthy of
jeopardised for the marital prospects of the Due the British nation. It would be impossible within
DE MONTPENSIER. From the Cabinet of the Tui-
themo rsep
thanace that
a slight could besk devotedetch
of
theseto the
documents,subject, to giveand
leries the entente cordiale has been blown to the !Wore
the liberties of Iberia have been bartered fur
will beeo colons-, and
the principal points of the new charter. vie doubt
tnhethgerueanteistetdjoKyinangd.
a nuptial ring, a fierce incitement has been given to
gnoratttiltU(tleitil the thatth i
with
Northern despotism. In , Spain the people have
King-
had their independence juggled from them by dom it will be hailed with the approbations it so richly
the guile of an Ambassador, by the unmotherly pro-
deserves.
ceedings of CHRISTINA, by the chicaneries of a foreign The Charter itself contains 25 clauses; it is, how-
office and the imbecility of an Afrancesado adminis- ever, little more than an echo of the Act of Parlia-
tration. In Portugal the population has been plunged m ent on which it is founded, calling into existence
create. It is the accompanying instructions that, as
Lordship says, " exhibit the plan of the newt
into the dismal tribulations of civil war through the the powers which the QUEEN was authorised to
machinations of a pedagogue and the subserviency of
the SOVEREIGN. In Prussia, in Russia, and in h
Austria, the unrelenting thirst for domination has constitution in all the detail in which it has been
been perceptible, and the territorial avarice possible to prepare it in this country," and which is
fully made a tnhde o
icrheauninn
se
tla
notfi
asl
li gy n. i fyTi nh ge
is
et h
ien
srtoryuanit i
opnl.
se ase
ounr e.
of the triumvirate has manifested itself in
the seizure of Cracow and the preparation
of preliminaries for the complete incorporation sist of fourteen different chapters, each of which is
of Poland. In Hungary the fluctuating health divided into several different sections.
The first and second clauses of the Charter refer to
iof the Palatine has alone contributed in a
special manner to the anxieties of its inhabitants. In the constitution of the municipal corporations, which
Rol the most remarkable events have been the de-
are made the basis of the popular branch of the Le-
mise of Pope GREGORY XVI., and the nomination of gislature. They are to be the electors by whomthe
his successor Pope Ptus IX., than whom a more House of Representatives in each province is to be
elected. The fifth chapter of the instructions provides for
fitting personage could scarcely have been
the establishing those corporations. All swab parts cf selected to exercise the spiritual and tempo-.
ral power reposed in the hands of the Sove- the island as shall be owned, or lawfully occupied,
by persons of European birth or origin, Fa to be
reign Pontiff. From the novel reformations, both
political and municipal, which are now being formed into municipal districts, to be called boroughs,
effected in the Papal States, a propitious in each of which there is to be a capital town. The
Governor is to determine the number and extent ef
future dawns upon abased Italy under the
generous auspices of the late illustrious and en-
these boroughs, taking into his consideration the po.
lightened Bishop of Imola. In Switzerland the can-
pulousness and wealth of the districts, the general
tons have been in a perpetual state of agitation from community of local interests subsisting between its
the religious animosities by which the Confederation
inhabitants, and the facility of access from the diffe-
has been tormented. In Belgium a singular tram-
rent parts of the district to the capital town. Each
quillity and prosperity has been visible, and the
borough is to have a Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and
Common Council, similar in every respect, and with
speech delivered by the SOVEREIGN on the opening
of his Legislative Chambers promises largely as to the similar powers and authority, to our own municipal
patronage and facilities afforded to national industry institutions; and every male person (with the usual
and commercial enterprise. In Sweden the son of the exceptions), who, on the Ist of January le every
fortunate adventurer BERNADOTTE, has continued to year, is in possession of a tenement which he has oc-
reign in peace at his palace in Stockholm. In Turkey cupied for six months preceding, is to be entitled to
the most memorable circumstance has been the visit
the municipal franchise in the borough, in which his
of Mosramen Ant purpose property is to Constantinople, for the situated. Sir R. PEEL has told us that the
of establishing some cordiality between himself and
battle of the Constitution was to be fought in the
his former superior, the young SULTAUN. In Greece Registration Courts, that wise statesman clearly per-
the disrelish for the monarchical government under
ceiving that the real source of political power rests with
King OTIIO has considerably diminished; and the those possessing the elective franchise. It will from
political institutions of that ceuntry are assuming this at once be seen how wide the foundation on
a less vacillating appearance. Throughout which the popular representation of New Zealand is
the Asiatic continent dissensions have still continued henceforth to rest. Every male of full age, Sec., who
oovferthtehe Setikhs arrived towards the commencement
to be prevalent. The intelligence of our victories
ILtuity —IITII
triumph of\
—the news of theprowess of S. on the Ist of January, in every year, shall be in pos-
ir for six monthspreceding, has a voice •
past
at Aliw
perozeshab,al, of the dearly-purchased in the affairs of
session of a tenement, which he shall have occupied
his country. He can vote for, and is eligible to be a
ofdi,etehe heroicc death of Sir member of, the Common Council, from whom are to
ROBERT SALE at Aloo the terms ex.. be elected the May or and Aldermen. The Common
tortes from the Maharaja Lxl.l, SINGu by Council, too, are t-o select:the members of the House
Lords Goro it and lIARDINGE. On the
mountains
of Itefpresentatves for each province, who are
frontiers of Persia, namely among the againbod to
or
be
present to elect one-third of their 1
Caubul, the perfidious character of Axnia K.:L.A. has the House of Represuntaves
continued to render tranquillity in that quarter of the, 'aencral Assembly,
carious. In regard to Japan, the necessities which
extensive d
of the must e We have thus a fel-Trap
description, and tt* popular
are continually experienced for fresh fields for mer- ' branches of the New Zealand Legislature made to
cantile enterprise have caused a general anxiety to consist of a real representation of the many. This
penetrate, by pacific means, beyond the limits er that alone will serve as an example v
of the liberality of the
fruitful archipelago, to barter our own comestodities entire scheme. Each house of Representatives is to
with the people for the riches hidden in the 'nines, be elected for four years, and ;5 to detertuines esitte