The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-31 00:00:00

M A P

THE RAILWAYS.

IN A FEW DAYS, WE SHALL PUBLISH A
~RAILWAY SUN,"

THE SUN, LONDON, S

of a hopeless struggle. To imagine that the represen-
tative of Knaresborough has hitherto escaped from his
political contests scatheless and uninjured, would be
one among the wildest stretches of fancy ; the fumes
and the smoke of his own prodigious subterfuges have
tarnished his very name, and the marks of those battles
are indelible. All these circumstances appear to be
thoroughly impressed upon the mind of Mr. FERRAND
and in all likelihood it is the conviction of their
truth which urges him on in his present mad and un-
reasonable career. The hull of his Parliamentary fame
is just barely distinguishable, darkened and shattered
from the conflict in which it has repeatedly engaged,
and as repeatedly fared the worst ; the sullen waters of
popular displeasure are gradually sucking that black
hull into their bosom, and surging upon it from all
quarters ; yet does Mr. BUSFEILD FERRAND still
defy the advance of public opinion and public indigna-
tion, and, by his recent proceedings at Leeds,
clambers up, as it were, to the mast-head,
and there nails up the last rag of his reputation, as
though in very defiance. His provincial eloquence ap-
pears to concentrate itself upon one intolerable effort,
namely, the dissemination of discontent and
among the labouring classes. He addresses himself ex-
clusively to artizans; he tells them they are the most
tyrranised and degraded body of human creatures in the
empire ; he covers their employers with every epithet
of ignominy and abhorrence ; and endeavours, by every
possible effort of his tongue, by his insinuations, and by
flagrant mis-statements, by his unwieldy meekness,
and by his unflinching audacity, to rouse among the in-
dustrious classes a feeling of hatred and animosity
against the manufacturers, from whom they receive their
wages and their " daily bread." For this miserable
and vile attempt the Member for Knaresborough is
culpable indeed, and hence he would deserve our most
absolute reprobation, but for the perfect impotence with
which the attempt is accompanied. The gentlemen who
potter over their protection crucibles in the grand
laboratory of New Bond-street had better bestir them.
selves in the election for the West Riding, if they wish
any success to attend their party in that quarter ;
they must oust Mr. BUSFEILD FERRAND and mount the
rostrum themselves, if they wish an agricultural candi-
date to be returned for that division of Yorkshire. So
much virulence of tongue, so much generalism of abuse,
so much essential coarseness of argument, as have been
indulged in by this terrible gentleman, are, in truth, suffi-
cient to injure the most stable cause in the universe,
but when they are actually coincident with an irre-
trievably unstable faction, no marvel that the conse-
quence is inevitable disgrace. It is a wonderful con-
trast to compare the epistles recently published by Mr.
FERRAND and Mr. COBDEN, the former entitled
" Brutal and Cos► ardly Conduct of the League," the
latter addressed to " The Tenant Farmers of England c"
the one teeming with the most rancorous malice, and the
most determinate vulgarity; the other a calm, argu-
mentative, dispassionate, and gentlemanly production.
From these two letters we may indeed estimate the
relative position of the question now at issue : the
stubborn though chap-fallen rage of the protectionists,
with the quiet and candid self-confidence of their
opponents.

We would beg to draw the particular attention of our
readers to a letter from Mr. COBDEN to the tenant
farmers of England, which appears in another column.
As the record of the deliberate opinion of " one who
has sprung from their own ranks," it is entitled to their
most mature consideration. As the opinion of the first
political economist of the day, it is entitled to the at-
tentive consideration of all philosophical (as
contra-distinguished from party) politicians, and as the
opinion of one of those political philosophers who, ac-
cording to the admission of Sir ROBERT PEEL himself,
was three years ago right, when he, the Prime Minister
of the country, was wrong, more especially is it entitled
to the consideration of the Minister, who, by his own
showing, is three years behind Mr. COBDEN. Out
of consideration to the tenant farmers themselves, he
advocates an immediate, in preference to a gradual,
repeal of the corn-laws, and argues that the present mo-
ment, when there is a scarcity over the whole continent
of Europe, is the time of all others when the corn-laws
can be repealed without even temporary inconvenience
to the British farmer. "I.;" says Mr. COBDEN, " you
should be induced to concur in its views, you will avoid
the only danger to which, in my opinion, the farmers
were ever exposed from the repeal of the corn-law—
that of the transition state. From the first I have
always entertained and expressed the conviction that
free trade, far from permanently injuring the farmers,
would ultimately tend to their prosperity and independ-
ence. I never disguised from myself, however, the
temporary evils to which they might be exposed in the
change. But let us unite in seizing the present opportu-
nity, and the triumph of sound principles may be
achieved without the bitter ingredients of one particle
of injury to any class or individual. From the most
exalted personage in the realm down to the humblest
peasant, all may witness, with unalloyed pleasure, one
of the greatest victories ever achieved over past preju-
.lice and ignorance, whilst each class may derive pecu-
liar gratification at the close of our long domestic
struggle. The SOVEREIGN may gltiry that her reign
was reserved for the era of a commercial reforma-
don, more pregnant in its beneficial consequences to the
destinies of mankind than all the wars of her illustrious
ancestors ; the landed aristocracy vill see in the con-
summation of our labours, an opening for the resumption
of their social influence based upon the only sure foun-
dation—the respect and confidence of the people ; whilst
to the middle and industrious classes will be presented a
constantly widening field for the employment of their
peaceful energies, together with greater means and more
leisure for that moral amelioration which, I trust, will
accompany their improved physical condition."

We have received Madrid journals of the 23d, which
contain a glowing description of the grand ball given by
General NARVAEZ to her MAJESTY and a select party On
the evening of the 22d. The QUEEN, with her sister
and mother, arrived at eleven o'clock, when the concert
commenced. All the fashionable society of Madrid was
present. Don FRANCISCO DE PAULA took his place
near his royal relatives. After the concert the QUEEN
opened the ball with the Duke of VALENCIA (NAnvAEz),
and the INFANTA, the goxgti's sister, with the French
Ambassador. At three o'clock their MAjEsTuts with-
drew. Several Senators and Deputies of the Opposition
party were present.
In the Chamber of Deputies Senor Mom entered
into a long statement respecting his financial policy, and
no one could deny that he had perfPrined wonders, of
which this extract from his speech gives a brief nut?
line :

" The Ministry of which I am a member have triumphed,
for they have extricated the country from a real chaos. For
anarchy they have substituted order and morality. Ilas
not our financial position been improved since 1844, when
we took office? At that period the treasury was empty;
every department of the public service was suffering, and a
bankruptcy was imminent. Nobody would lend money to
the Government. To obtain 7,000, Oof, it was compelled to
give 12,000,000 f.; the tobacco revenue had been farmed out
for ten years, and the proceeds of two months had been
beforehand consumed ; no hope remained ; the active
employees had received but two months' salary out of
five, and the passive classes one month only. In
this year, On thr contrary, a contract bad been entered
into with a highly respectable publiP eatahlishment, and
I ask whether this contract affords the said employees sudi,
dent guarantees for payment in this year 1 pr, Llorente
cried ff No 11l you may deny it (continued M. Non),
but the Deputies of Spain and all --Europe have
been astonished at such a treaty having been concluded with
the San-Fernando bank. It was imagined that the Govern-
ment never would attain the object it has accomplisiest:unTthine
utmost confusion pyevailod in the public service, and they
who negotiated with the GoveTninent required a d
proportion to tise difficulties they dreaded in the collection of
the revenue. Is this morality in the Administration ? Have
those who, in two years, have made
Governmentstoehnt
is harassedPoTifilaiolldiaabpy-
pear, done nothing ? Two years are a brief period in finan-
cialn-
ethiael pinreaststeartdebar ganslipyirwaohirs, a Government
Ye, the army has been paid,
and the navy improved. Under Charles 111. it was not as
strong as it now is. Yes, gentlemen, the navy is now better
paid that} it, was under Charles 111. It may be alleged that
some injustice and vexatious have taken place in the collec-
tion of the revenue ; these details are of it secondary impor,
tance, and a Government which was to bestow its attention
on questions of the utmost moment cannot always watch the
details of its operationa,'?
The 23d being the feast of St. Ildefonso, the Stock-
Exchange remained closed.

The report of Sir It PEEZ's speech in the House of
Commons on Tuesday evening was received in Paris on
Thursday, and created a great sensation. Every per-
son who turned his attention to the changes expressed
wonder at their magnitude and extent. The good
people of Paris could hardly credit the news, and the
only drawback on the joyful intelligence was a doubt
whether the Minister would be able to carry his com-
-%.nniiive and liberal scheme through Parliament,
pre
i:rmlties for two days had been occu-
The Chambet o;r% ,
pied in discussing the proposed ''ens in the con-
stitution of the University. M. SALVANDY, I,IIV
Minister of Public Instruction, made a long
speech in defence of the new regulations, and
was opposed by M. TRIERS, but their arguments
possess no interest for the English reader.
Another notice of motion had been given by an Oppo-
sition -Member relative to the relations between England
and France. M. BERRYER, as has been stated, has a
motion on the naval affairs and maritime rights of
France, which will call forth many speeches, and M.
MAUGIJIN has also given notice of his intention to move
an amendment on the fifth paragraph of the Address,
to the following effect:—" We hope that the union and
good intelligence of your Government with that of bre