The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-30 00:00:00

Ott nu.

LONDON:
TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1841.

In the House of Lords last night, Lord DEN-
MAN, on presenting a petition, took the opportu-
nity of defending, in reference to the case of Lord
WALDEGRAYE, himself, and two of his brother
Judges from some of the strictures of the Press.
It argues well for Lord DENMAN'S pure mind that
he is not insensible to the public voice ; and we
cannot think that the Marquis of NORMANDY ex-
pressed a just sentiment, or did any credit to
himself, or took a right measure of public feeling
when, adopting a routine saying of aristocracy,
he asserted, Lord DENMAN might have relied on
his own high character, to satisfy their Lordships
and the public as to the course which he had
pursued. Lord DENMAN judged better, and feel-
ing conscious ofhaving done right, he endeavoured
to convey his own convictions to the public. We
cannot say that they will agree with Lord DENMAN
they will no doubt admit his rectitude, bu.
perhaps doubt his discretion. It is something tc
learn from him that the case would, in the ordi-
nary course of law, be brought before him next
term. His Lordship affirmed that all he said oL
the occasion of Sir F. POLLOCK announcing that
the parties would plead guilty and make an
atonement, was, "At least they act right now ;
let their plea be withdrawn, and a plea of guilty
be recorded. I hope the case is of such a nature
as to admit of its being settled by private repara-
ration." His Lordship probably knew nothin
of the particulars, the parties having pleaded
guilty. We shall know more about his opinion
when they are brought up for judgment.

After a few petitions, their Lordships again
prosecuted what Lord RA DNOR called their " mi-
nute" inquiry into the character, conduct, condi-
tion, past life, and opinions, of certain very subor-
dinate and never-before-heard-of Poor-law admi-
nistrators, and when tired of this sport went tc
dinner.

In the Commons, after the usual presentation
of petitions, the Copyright of Designs Bill wa
read a second time.

Some conversation took place as to the busi-
ness that was to be brought before the House;
and on reference to an inquiry into the conditiol
of Newfoundland, to which Lord J. RUSSELL
again expressed his readiness to accede, wile'.
the information reached. England.; but the
whole business of the evening was the Poor-
law Amendment Bill. On the motion to go int(
a Committee, Mr. FIELDEN moved an instruc-
tion to repeal the Poor-law Amendment Act;
and supported his motion by a long but inaudible
speech.

General JOHNSON seconded the motion, which
on a division was lost by 9 to 155.
In Committee several divisions occurred, th:
Bill was gone through up to clause 10, and the
House adjourned at a Quarter-past One.

We see with much pleasure that the provincia.
journals which are generally assumed to express
the opinions of the working classes are growing
more moderate, and recommending conciliation
where they formerly advocated hostility. The
Chartists are now told by their own newspaper::
that they should endeavour to convince and
convert the ignorant and erring, and that they
should use arguments, not force, to obtain suc-
cess. Class feelings are deprecated as rising
from and giving strength to furious passions,
and as leading to convulsions. Some of the
middle classes, it is said, are with the lowei
classes, and the whole should be conciliated.
Even if none of them are converted to Chartisn:
by mild persuasion, those who use that will gait
a good name for their peaceable efforts. Such
recommendations have our hearty approval, and
we hope they are the commencement of an ap-
proximation between the middle and lower
classes.

The interest of employers and employed, who
are mutually as necessary to each other's sub-
sistence as the weaver, the spinner, and the
cotton-grower, is so closely interwoven, that it
is impossible for the arts and intrigues of their
opponents to keep them long at variance. It is
only requisite, we believe, that both should
understand their mutual relations, for both to
become aware of their mutual errors, and
strive together for the attainment of a
common end. Both are labourers—the man
who goes to market to buy cotton, or to market
to sell calicoes, or who plans and regulates a
mill, being as necessary to the combined
operation of making and exchanging cotton
cloth for bread, as the spinner and the weaver.
TheSittre not more necessary, however the wealth
of the master and the subsistence of the workmen
being equally the results of their joint exertions.
Whilst the employers cannot be, nor is it wished
that they should be, insensible to the charms of
wealth and distinction, neither can they be, nor
ought they to be, insensible to the more serious
consideration of having around them contented
though less opulent assistants.. Riches are good
things, but peace and security are better; and
those who strive after wealth must live in dread
as long as the multitude is desperate from want
and oppression.
We endeavoured on Thursday to point out
some of the circumstances which mislead the
workmen to suppose that their employers are
the willing instruments for oppressing them.
They are but the servants of a harsh necessity,
begotten by bad laws, and suffer by the same
causes which deteriorate the condition of the•
workmen. Whether the knowledge of this truth
come to the workmen by our instrumentality or
by their own observations and reflections, it is
impossible that they should not acquire it, and
equally impossible that it should be without in-
fluence over their conduct. The mutual in-
terest of both parties being so inseparably
united, we hope that the mild language
we have adverted to is the beginning of a better
understanding and reconciliation between them.
They cannot continue estranged without a mutual
destruction of their political power, and their re-
concilement may be expected because it is for
their common advantage.

We have never flattered either class by laying
all the blame of the contention on the other. If
the Chartists have been too eager to break
through old and honoured, though not honourable,
usages, the middle classes have been too tenacious
in holding fast to customs and privileges, regard-
less of their justice. If the Chartists, by the
threatened violence of physical force, under the
bad advice of self-seeking men, have endeavoured
to shake off the many oppressions to which the
law has subjected industry, the middle classes
have as unwisely sought, by the force of orga-
nized power, to maintain and strengthen a sys-
tem which they cannot avoid knowing is one
of oppression. Let them first secure for
the people freedom of industry, freedom
of thought, and freedom of action; let
them first secure for the poorer clan es ample
protection for their persons, their property, and
their labour, and then they will. -De justified for