The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-28 00:00:00

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
BRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION.
Sir,—The reference to Sir Robert Peel's speech
was misplaced. It was in the debate of Tuesday the
22d, on the Expenditure, that Sir Robert said,
" looking at what is passing in our extended em-
pire,—looking to the state of India,—looking to the
progress of events in Spain,—looking to what has
taken place in Mexico, and to the spirit which ani-
mates the American Republic, greatly, I believe, to
its own detriment—(Cheers)—and to the detriment
of publicinterests,—looking to the circumstances of
the times, I do not think it unreasonable to propose
that in the present year the army and navy shall not
be reduced."—(Report in Times of 23d Feb.)
On Wednesday, the 230, Mr. A nstey brought forward
his monster motion against Lord Palmerston ; and as
befitted the scale of the proceedings, he introduced it
with a speech of nearly five hours.
The only point on which he was strong was
Mexico. And really it does appear inexplicable, that
an invasion which has now been twelve years in pre.
paration and progress, of which the avowed intent was
to get up a preponderance for one of the two
struggling parties in the United States, with
liberty for the other to restore the balance by
doing the like on the side of Canada, should have
been nursed by British Ministers to the extent of
a positive refusal of any public remonstrance or in-
terference. It is now eleven years within a few
days, since the subject of Texas was distinctly brought
before the notice of Parliament by Mr. Barlow Roy,
and inquiry refused by the Minister, on the ground
that the Americans could never be so wicked as to
be thinking of annexing Texas ; in which he was
supported by a large majority made by the votes of
the Members of the Reform party. If the Ameri-
cans have Mexico, it is precisely because everybody
would have it so. What is to be hoped is, that the
Government will be prepared to surrender Canada to
the United States on the first serious demonstration
against it, without putting the country to the ex
pense of a useless struggle, after twelve years have
been dedicated to concentrating and promoting the
plans of the invader. That an invasion of Mexico
was substantially an invasion of Canada, was always
as clear as that a high tide at Gravesend was the way
to swamp the cellars at London-bridge.
But the weakness of the monster motion lies In
this: that Governments cannot be brought to account
for the faults accumulating in a quarter of a century,
when there is no substantial power of bringing them
to account for an evil at the time of its occur-
rence. Besides, there is a brief answer to the pre-
sent movement against the " necks" of the Minis-
ters ; which is, that we cannot spare them. Estimate
what our condition would have been, if at this mo-
ment when events of the first magnitude are taking
place:every hour upon the Continent, the Government
of this country had been in the hands of men supposed
in
stead
of be acting in the spirit of the Ducal letter,
of Ministers who by the decided part taken on the
questions of Switzerland and Italy, have secured the
friendship, and not the hostility, of the rising spirit
of constitutional liberty in Europe. It is clear enough
what the publication of the Ducal letter aimed at. It
aimed at operating upon precisely the crisis which is
at this moment at its height; and thankful ought all
the friends of human happiness to be, that the shell
has, as to its main purpose, fallen dead.
Six o'clock arriving, Lord Palmerston in hls reply
was stopped at a semicolon ; and mast go on again
when the fates permit.

t

,

An inference in this place I cannot help advancing.
It would be insanity, in the actual conjuncture, to be
blustering with calling out the militia. It would be
doing the thing of all others best calculated for excit-
ing jealousies, and smothering good-will • in fact, if the
publishers of the Ducal letter could be asked what
they would best like at this moment, as giving the
possibility of seeing the tables turned and their
combative policy successful after all, they would say—
" Call out the militia." Surely the good sense of the
country ought not to be drawn upon on this occasion;
because the good sense of somebody else ought to
prevent the necessity of the appeal.
On Thursday Viscount Duncan moved for leave
to bring in a Bill for the total repeal of the Window-
tax ; which was rejected by 160 against 68. Some
time or other there will be a Government which will
found its claim to public support upon the reform of
the system of taxation ; but it appears it is not yet.
Meanwhile, one of the most useful ways in which the
public can employ its leisure hours, is in coming to a
conclusion on what the reform should be ;—a subject
on which there is a great deal to be done before arriv-
ing at an effective unity.
On Friday, on the order for Committee of Supply,
an amendment for reduction of expenditure was pro-
posed by Mr. Hume, and negatived by 157 against
59. Motion was then made for granting 1,100,0001.
for the expenses of the Kafir war. More than one
member unblushingly deelar.d, that, the money had
been spent already , and therefore was a debt the
House was bound to pay. Mr. lli•idley told the his-
tory of his meeting a gentleman from the Cape, who
descanted loudly on " the benefit done to Cape Town
by the expenditure of two millions of money in
it ;" for to so much, first or last, it is agreed it will
amount. Nut an atom of information was given of
the cause of war ; and the colony altogether was
avowed to be next to worthless. Nevertheless tho
grant was passed, by 252 against 61. Such a farce
is your pretended power of the purse ; and so it will
continue till popular representation is placed on a
wider and a juster basis.
I take the opportunity to contradict some of the re-
ports which have got into the public prints, on the
effects pro-luced in the House of Commons by the
stirring pieces of news which from time to time ar•
rived duriag the evening. There never was the
smallest alteration in the visible course of business ;
end no person unacquainted with the facts would have
remarked anything extraordinary, except that the
Speaker shut his eyes to a newspaper or two which
circulated along the benches.
I am, Si r, your obedient servant,
PERRONET THOMPSON.
Blackheath, London, Feb. 28, 1848.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, &C.

Handicap of 20 sovs. each, and 100 added.

Arrivals up to Sunday night:—St. Leger, Wolver-
hampton, Saucepan, Matthew, Father Mathew, The
Switcher, The Shaver, Sophia, Picton, Gipsy Queen,
The Doctor, The Iron Duke, and Maworth.
The following have paid :—Latitat, br g by Medora,
dam by Amadis.

LIVERPOOL SPRING CUP.
King Fisher, end Brown Fly.
HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.
The Donnington hds., Tues. Radcliff-on-Trent; Wed.,
Little Eaton; Sat., Langley Priory-1(3
Mr. Deacon's harrs., Wed., Roborough Rock; Sat.,
Shaugh Bridge-10.
Mr. A. Smith's lids., Tues., Sheroot; Wed., Wherwell
Wood; Thurs., Wilster Wood; Fri., Netheravon; Sat.,
Faccombe Wood-11.
Lord 11. Bentinck's lids., Tues., Panton; Wed., Fis-
kerton, Long Wood ; Thurs., Carleton-le-)loreland;
Fri., Skellingthorpe; Sat., Somerby Hall-11.
The Essex Union lids., Wtd., Beckenham Hall; Sat.,
Rettenden- common-1(4.
The East Essex hds., Finchingfield-town; Sat.,
St. Anne's Castle-10#.
The Sherwood harrs., Tues., Rushley ; Fri., Morton
Bridge.
The Rufford lids., Thurs., Laxton Village; Sat ,
Lound
Mr. Lumley's lids., Tues , Grove; Thurs., Armthorpo
Village; Fri., Boyle Guide-post-14.
Sir R. Sutton's lids., Tues., l3ardon Hall; Wed., Bunny
Park; Thurs., Rolleston; Sat., Gaddesby-11.
Mr. M. Ingram's hds., Thurs., Bretby Park; Sat.,
Brereton Village-14
Mr. Drax's lids., Tues., Holnest Kennel'.
The Upton harrs., Tues., Beauchamp Court; Fri.,
Kennel.

Tha Wheatland hds., Wed., Longnor; Fri., Acton
Burnell.

Th© Ludlow hds., Tues., Gatley Coppice; Fri., Mary
Knoll.

The Brighton harrs., Wed., Racecourse; Fri., Dyke.
Tho Brookside harrs., Thurs., Telscombe Tye-9:1.
The Crawley and llorsham hds., Wed., Denne Park;
Fri., Pease Pottage-gate-14
Glyndbourne harrs., Wed., Kennel; Fri., Ripe-rll.

MICHAEL M'CABE TO BE TRANSPORTED FOR
LIFE.—The following communication from Mr. R. 1).
Jackson, solicitor, of York, reached us yesterday after-
noon:—" I have by this post received a letter from
M'Cabe's counsel (Mr. Matthews), from which it ap-
pears that the basket has been sent to London, and
although it could not bo carried on the arm, yet it was
impossible to say that it could not be carried under the
arm. M'Cabe is therefore to be transported for life,
because this fact supports in some measure her evidence,
contradicted as it is by the evidence of other witnesses,
and from which, if they are to be believed, neither Reid
nor M'Cabe could have been seen, as sworn to by the
little girl. Time alone can dissolve the dark mystery
which hangs over this matter.”—Leeds Mercury.
TDB DOCKYARD BRIGADE.—The Admiralty have
issued orders to the various dockyards that the instruc-
tions for re organization are not to be acted upon until
Captain Sulivan had visited alt of them and made his re-
port to the Board. Gunners' mates who are in the re-
ceipt of pensions from the Admiralty are declared to be
eligible to the situations of drill sergeants for the Boat
Brigade. Mr. Brown, Master Attendant at Portsmouth
Dockyard, has solicited permission from the Admiralty
to resign the command of the Boat Brigade at that port.
—United Service Gazette.

TIIE GOVERNORSHIP OF TILE BOROrGII COMPTER.
—Mr. Newman, the principal turnkey at New gate, has
been appointed Governor of the Borough Compter,
which is being fitted up for the reception of some por-
tion of the prisoners at present confined in Giltapur-
street Compter. The removal of prisoners will take
place forthwith. The Borough Compter was formerly
for the reception of prisoners committed by the Alder-
men sitting at the Town Hall, as magistrates for the
"Clink" Liberty.
The Demerara Railway conveyed the first load of
sugar to the city of Georgetown on the 13th of January,
at the rate of 20 wiles per hour.