The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-05 00:00:00

TILL SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 5, 1847.

• deemed her own element, may be comforted
when he wakes up and hears that he actually
has been competing with very reasonable success,
all his life long, though, as would seem, without
knowing it. He competes with foreigners in the
whole of the export trade between Great Britain and
the rest of the world (the colonies excepted). As
regaids that half of our commerce which consists in
exports, the British shipowners' competition with
foreigners is absolute and unrestricted—with what
result it is needless to say. He competes with
foreigners, too, i-i certain European ports, which are
open, on equal terms, to the ships of all the world.
There are again, as is well known, branches of our
foreign trade in which, owing to the operation of our
various reciprocity treaties, and other relaxations of
the old navigation-law, the British shipowner has
long been in open competition with that celebrated
personage, "the untaxed foreigner." With what re-
sult ? Has the amount of British shipping employed
in the unprotected trades steadily decreased, year
by year, while, in the protected trades, the policy of
legislative favouritism has vindicated itself by a cor-
respondent increase in the quantity of privileged
British tonnage ? The answer is rather startling.
There has been an increase in both ; but the increase
has been about twice as rapid in the unprotected
as in the protected trades. That frightful cheapness
and that fabulous freedom from taxation
which constitute the British native shipowners'
conception of foreign countries and their in-
habitants, do not appear somehow to work exactly
according to expectation. Else there would long
ago have been an end of shipbuilding in Great Bri-
tain, protection notwithstanding, and the whole busi-
ness would have emigrated to the cheap and untaxed
British North American colonies. Is it impossible
that quality may be an element of the question of
cheapness in shipbuilding ? Is it not conceivable,
that a British ship which cost 201. per ton may be as
cheap, commercially speaking, as a Norwegian or
Canadian ship built for less than half the money, and
lasting, on the average, less than a third of the time?
We simply throw out the hint for the consideration of
those who are more especially concerned in fathoming
the philosophy of the question. In the meanwhile it
strikes us as in the very highest degree probable, that
competition with foreigners in shipbuilding and navi-
gation may turn out to be as feasible as competition
with foreigners in spinning and weaving, especially
when the Legislature shall have done everything that
yet remains to be done in the way of facilitating com-
petition, by removing absurd and oppressive restric-
tions which hinder the British shipowner from doing
what he will with his own. I'Ve have a very strong
impression that when the experiment of " ruin
comes to be fairly tried, it will be found to be but a
British agriculturist's ";ruin " over again.
HERALD.—We cannot help regretting that, in
making the needful arrangements for the proposed
a second error should have
been committed,
of T
enr hanks
almost as much to be lamented as
the first, which occurred in the order for the Fast-
day. The mistake then made was, the oversight of
the opportunity of making a large and greatly-needed
collection for the Irish. The mistake now made is,
the ordering a collection for the Irish ! It was a
matter of universal remark and regret, on the former
occasion, that so singularly suitable an occasion for
drawing forth a noble contribution should have been
allowed to pass by. Everywhere the congregations
were large, most respectable, and deeply serious; and
there could exist no doubt that had a simultaneous
call been made upon them, a collection of 50,000/., or
perhaps 100,0001., would have been the result. The
oversight was observed and regretted, when too late.
But in now attempting to repair it, a second, and
almost a greater error, has been committed.
There is a general and very natural willingness
expressed, that the day of thanksgiving should be
used as a fit occasion for a- national thank-offering.
Indeed, a barren thanksgiving-day—a day of mere.
words and formalities, would be a national offence to
the Giver of all Good. So universally is this felt,
that the people—clergy and laity—were everywhere
resolving to select some great religious work towards
which they might give a substantial aid that day.
Some were purposing to make collections for Church
extension; for building places of worship in our
overgrown manufacturing towns. Others thought
of the Pastoral Aid Society, and proposed, through
its means, to increase the number of labourers in the
spiritual vineyard. Others, again, wished to send
more Scripture readers and Irish teachers to the
poor Romanists of the sister country. In one way
or other, we repeat, there would have been, volun-
tarily, a large thank-offering gathered in. But
now, by a second error, her Majesty has been
advised to command that the collections made
"shall be paid into the Bank of England," for the
purpose of alleviating the distress felt in Ireland and
in some parts of Scotland, from the failure in the
potato crop "in the year 1846 and in the beginning
of the present year.' Now this, we repeat, we deeply
regret, because we believe that it is calculated to
check and almost to counteract the pious designs of
the people towards other objects; and to compel
them, in some sort, to an act of charity to which,
at this moment, they are not inclined. The people
of England have contributed, for many months
past, in a manner and to a degree wholly unprece-
dented, towards the alleviation of the sufferings of
Ireland. By this special demand great injury
has been done to many good works in England,
the public attention and the public beneficence
being directed another way. A variety of laud-
able undertakings in our own neighbourhoods
have been checked and almost brought to a
stand, by the heavy drain kept up by Irish misery.
Of late, people were beginning to hope that things
would revert to their former course. The blessing
of an abundant harvest—the outlay of several millions
of public money—and the organization of relief boards
and poor-law boards throughout Ireland, created an
expectation that at last that country would be able to
take care of its own poor. Hence a general feeling
was everywhere expressed, that now the weight would
be removed from English shoulders, and we might be
once more at liberty to prosecute our own home
designs. It is our knowledge and conviction that
this sentiment is almost universal which makes us
frankly express our regret and disappointment that a
royal command should at, this moment issue for
another parochial collection for " Irish distress." We
say not that " Irish distress" is ended—or that there
will not be abundant opportunity for applying the
funds raised to a good purpose. We merely say,
that the call, at the present moment, is sadly
opposed to the public feeling and intentions ; and that
the response will be a reluctant one. If it were pos-
sible, we should be rejoiced to see, even now, an
enlargement given, and a withdrawal of the com-
mand, which almost limits the collections made on
that day to the specified purpose. If this is not done,
we can predict one course which will, in many cases,
be taken. The morning collection will be disposed
of as directed, and it will be of small amount. An
evening collection will be devoted to some English
purpose, and this will elicit the best sympathies of
the congregation. Let no one say, or imagine, that
we are stepping
ardour in a good cause. This article would never
out of our way to damp the public
have been written, had we not been deeply convinced
that the public mind is already indisposed to the course
which is now, unfortunately, by royal authority,
commanded. Entertaining that belief, our plain duty
is to point out the error ; and to urge that, if pos-
sible, while there is yet time, it may in some way be
rectified.
SC

....,onae days ago
OTTIS-11 EXCURSION TRAIN
FROM
S
LONDON TO EDINBURGH.
eveto start from London to Edinburgh, with extensive
excursions, forking
offnottiocedthethlaatndaocfheßapurtnrsaianndwtaos
so extremely the Western Highlands, and we are gratified to know,
from the following certificate presented to Mr. Muir,
the manager, by the excursionists, that the numerous
delighted not only with
‘l3tarthhtayes
grandeur and sublimity of the scene" but also to
give approbation the way
uealylified in
throughout." But let the
for itself.
document speak It is signed by the their
indi-
viduals forming the excursion in name of themselves
or party :-
1847.—T° Mr. Muir.—Sir : We, the
undersigned, being the_ persons who were induced to
join your experimental trip to Edinburgh and the
Western Highlands (through your advertisements),
beg to give our most unqualified approbation
conducted line of steam-vessels has
con-
been conducted through-
out, especially by the means you have taken
Castle
in " tShweepbetellew3n"l it
Company ; indeed we have to
for the kindness and attention of
all the commanders of the vessels (not forgetting our
throughrneetcutrereturn
out rh withet
hthane ably
ks
captain on the canal) ; also the great attention and
liberality of the stewards to our creature comforts,
and h
gorder and civility of the several
wcannotconclude without expressing that
oure isaee: general
we
of s c
ottish scenery have been more than
fulfilled, and that it is impossible for any one to
crt
ideas
imagine the grandeur and sublimity of the scene
without personally visiting it. In conclusion, we
beg to return you our sincere thanks for the pleasure
we have enjoyed, and we fully give you permission to
make what use you may think proper of this letter.
" Muir, Esq., 75, Princes street, Edinburgh."
The party returned to London at an early hour on
Saturday morning last, after enjoying nine clear days
in Scotland, having had a bright sun by day and a
full moon by night.

DON MIGUEL DE BRAGANZA.—Don Miguel de
Braganza, who has been suffering from a somewhat
prolonged indisposition, is now quite recovered; he took
aozroirdieo.on
Ohnorsack
(Monday) afternoon, accompanied by Colonel Tavares
Regent's Park yesterday
Wednesdaythelast, being St. Michael's-
day, the Prince received the compliments of several
Portuguese and foreign gentlemen, who repaired to his
accompanied
residence to preeest their respects to him on the
oOoesion. • - .