The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-16 00:00:00

etivnina

LONDON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1848.

Absolutism has its avowed organs in London. We
say thislas much in pity for our Contemporaries as in
indignation at the course which they have not blushed
to pursue towards a class of men who ought assuredly
to h lye been saved from the assaults of the journalist
by • the exquisite poignancy of their misfortunes.
We mean the unfortunate refugees from Russian-
Pulani.. The calamities which have driven these
political outcasts to England are lamentable from a
twofold consideration—firstly, because they originate
in a great national catastrophe; and secondly, be-
cause they result in the personal miseries of
penury and expatriation. Against these chil-
dren of misfortune we are distressed to see
that several of our most influential con-
temporaries hare raised a hand as stern and pitiless
as it is unhappily powerful. Under all circumstances
it is painfal to witness the exercise of strength over
weakness—whether it be in the ungenerous scorn
expressed by a victorious foe over a fallen antagonist,
or in the bludgeoning of the blind man and the
cripple, by a strong and ruffianly assailant. Such
a spectacle has been recently witnessed in the blows
levelled against the Polish refugees by the Times
newspaper and others of our Contemporaries. We
do aver, with our whole heart, that a proceeding
rnora disgraceful to the English press than the
one to which we are . here making reference
has stldoen, if ever, been observed since journalism
first began to ekercise its authority under the patron-
age of Lord BURLEIGLI, or under the auspices of Sir
ROGER L'ESTRANGE. It is MI occurrence such as
cannot fail to derogate verb materially from the repu-
tation of those so called organs of public opinion in
the British capital ; especially when the powerless
position of the Polish refugees is contrasted with the
enormous influence of our great morning Contem-
r orary.

It will be well for the public to remark, however,
that the dep;eciation of the charities in behalf of
some hund eds%of destitute foreigners, is merely
one out of a thousand examples of the principles
of Absolutism which the Conservative members
of the daily press of London are endeavouring
by every' poVle and impossible means to propagate.
We arc here—let it be distinctly understood—re-
ferring not only to the Times, but to the Morning
Post and the Morning Chronicle. Those journals
have latterly broken through all the bounds of de-
cency in regard to continental politics, and have de-
graded the dignity of the journalism of England by
their malignant misrepresentation of the struggling
ntationalities of Christendom. Their enthusiasm in
he ause of retrogression has carried them to extre-
mities so marvellous that they have at last, without
blushing for such a total abnegation of self-respect,'
pointed the finger of
Wescorn at the unfortunate refu-
gees from Poland I should have been amazed that
a common sense of manliness had not prevented this
most indecorous and disgraceful proceeding, but that
vt a were prepared even for such extravagant exhibi-
tions of subserviency to the cause ofAbsolutism, by
the sentiments already enunciated up the affairs of
m
the Continent by these among our .gntem -
poraries. We had long observed that what was o
desig-
nated Conservatism in England was synonymous with
what is called Autocracy upon the Continent. The
sympathy evinced for everything despotic or repres-
sive, whether in Austria or in Prussia, or else-
where, was altogether too glaring not to have
been recognised. We had seen the grossest
and meanest slanders that ever emanated from the
calumnious imagination of M. EMILE DE GIEARDIN
repeated, and corroborated, and bolstered up, and re-
tailed, ard paraded with extraordinary gusto in the
columns of one journal. In another we had listened
to the echoed sophisms, of the odious and obsolete
policy of statesmen such as GUIZOT and METTERNICH.
Il Witanscu9ateTz battered down the walls of
Vienna, if Milan was delivered up to the pillage of
the Croatians, if Prague was given to the flames, if
Hungary was ravaged by barbarian cohorts led
on by a condottieri like JELLACUICH, if the
population of Posen was decimated by the excru-
ciating brutality of the Prussian soldiers—there was
a loud cry of exultation at once audible among the
Conservative journals of London. ,Wherever a tyrant
perjured himself by a coup detat—whenever his
forces butchered the people in cold blood, there be
sure were the hearts and the exulting Corres
pondents of our Conservative Contemporaries. The
sinister influences of the AUTOCRAT were, in this
instance all powerful. The Tory journals
of London have rejoiced upon every occasion
00.14 Mated to afford satisfaction to the Russian
Dequts and have lamented every circumatance, how-

ever insignificant, which could tend toretard the ter
rible and degenerating progress ofßetrogression.
It is, therefore, by no maans remarkable to find
these organsiof the policy of NICHOLAS exaggerating
their enthusiasm to such a degree that they are not
ashamed to assail with' the shafts of ridicule and the
blu'dgeoPn: of'vitupeiatidn the unfortunate men driven
from Russian Poland for their political opinions, and
compelled by the 'force of calamities over which
they havet control whatever, to seek shelter and
assistance from'ihia hospitable people of Great Britain.
While:however, theseassault.4, directed against refugees
wird are ialtogether powerless arid defenceless, may not,
for the reasons .already given, be in the smallest
de-
gree remarkable, they are nevertheless sufficiently
ungenerous and basi* to' excite from us the strongest
'expressions of our, indignation, Both in the language
employed by the Times of this morning and of
Saturday there are derisive allusions to the interest
felt by the people, of, this country for the Polish re-
fugees as an evidence of merely so much sentimen
ttality. - And yet a little while ago—strong amongst
the strongest, earnest among the most earnest,
eloquent among the most eloquent of the
advOcates of the cause of Poland and the
Poles, • was this same Times newspaper
Upon; the consistency of its present conduct we shall
not condesCen(d to enlarge. In reference, however,
to thetirratio,nal character of the attacks made upon
the exertions of the Association of the Friends of
Poland, and especially upon the charitable ball to be
given this evening in:the Guildhall of the city of
London, we must be permitted to make a few very
simple,2bservations. If the Polish Ball Committee
were composed of so many public depredators, it
yord DUDLEY. STUART were given to the emulation of
sthe-couise pursued by Mr. RICHARD Tuarix upon the
"QuEzzes trighways—the furious condemnation of the
President and the Committee of the Association would
be all well and good. But when it is borne in recol-
lection
that the support granted to the ball is alto-
gether gratuitous, that the money given for the
tickets is given voluntarily, and that not one sixpence
is " extorted" from the people of this country in aid
of the."Asgociation, the fury of the assailants of the
charity becomes altogether preposterous. Suppose
now; that Mr. JACKSON, or Mr. SMITH, or Mr. TOM-

Km were to announce by flaming posters, that they
had taken the Hanover-square Rooms, and that on
such-and-such an evening there would be given a
iuleolies,ball and masquerade—would the Times news-
paper feel itself called upon to denounce the said Mr.
JAcKsolt,k Mr. SMITH, and Mr. TOMILINS, as men
thieving from the destitute poor of England the
Moneys which might otherwise have been distributed
iA the shape of soup or winter flanelling? We con-
. ..t.....,

jeciiire not. And yet when the proceeds of such an
entertainment go to support a number of unfortunate
refugees >stead of tending to the emolument of
JACKSON, &pill, or Toxixnis, the ball is attempted
to be written down as a crime against our suf-
fering fellow• colltitrymen. The Polish refugees
are consoled by stale aphorisms on the instability
of fortune, but 4.1", told not to expect more from
England than" the solace of verbal compassion, and
the gratuities of a shroud and a coffin. Really the
langUage of our Contemporary brings irresistibly to
our reeollectiOn the words of the fellow described in
dargantua. RABELAIS might almost have written it
as a prescient sarcasm upon the enemies of Poland.;;;,
" Quand doncques ie les voirray tumbez en la riuiere
et prestz d'estre noyez, en lieu de les eller querir et
bailler la-main, ie leur feray ung beau et long sermon de
contemptu mundi et fuga seculi, et lora qu'ilz serout roydes
roorts, ie lea iray pescher."—Liure I. chap. xlii.
Fortunately, however, for the character of our peo-
ple, for the fair fame of the city of London
for the lives of the Polish refugees, and
for the credit of humanity, the violent blows
administered by the Times have fallen innocuously.
They have not only proved utterly ineffectual in
damaging the cause against which they were directed
—they have even done yeoman's service towards its
encouragement. For it will be perceived, from an
announcement in another column, that Lord HOLLAND
yesterday enclosed 101. to the Polish Ball Committee,
declaring that he forwarded it in consequence of the
attacks made by our Contemporary. Such is an
eloquent and fitting retribution, and one which will
be enforced this evening by the brilliant attendance
at Guildhall, and the unusual abundance of the sub-
scriptions.

Another railway statement has been given to the
public. The York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway
Company have followed the example already set by
the London and North- Western, the Great Western,
South- Western, London, Brighton, and South Coast,
and Lancashire and Yorkshire Companies; and we
rejoice to say that, in every instant-', the full and
unreserved account of the affairs of the companies
has had the effect of assuaging the fears of the share-
holders, and of alleviating the panic that had pre-
viously prevailed, and which was attended with such
injurious results to all those interested in railway
propehity. A knowledge of the true state of facts
completely negatived the erroneous statements and
calculations that had been put forward, and proved to
the public, that there was every prospect of divi-
dends that would pay at least from six to eight per
cent. on the amount of capital invested at present
prices, and that at the most moderatelestimates, which
were far more likely to be below than above the
mark. The natural result has followed, there has
been a marked improvement in the prices of shares
in all the companies that have published statements of
their affitirs, and enabled the public to judge for them-
selves upon incontrovertible data of their true position
and prospects.
The statement now under notice—the sixth that
has been published, which will be found in extengo
in another part of our impression—is remarkable for
its simplicity, clearness of arrangement, and the
amount of information conveyed. It reflects the
highest credit upon the intelligent gentleman whose
name appears attached thereto, and proves how well
merited was the eulogium passed upon his character
and acquirements by one whose experience and
judgment in everything relating to railway affairs at-
tached extraordinary weight to his opinion. When
proposing that gentleman for the appointment of
secretary to the " Newcastle and Darlington
Company" in 1842, Mr. HUDSON then said,
" The person I have to propose is one whom I
have known a number of years, who is per-
fectly competent for the office, and who, from his
abilities, his industry, and his energy, is capable of
discharging its duties in a manner satisfactory to the
shareholders." How fully warranted was that cha-
racter must have long since been manifested to every
person brought into communication or connected in
business with its object, and the present statement
adds additional confirmation to its accuracy.
In the present instance the statement of expen-
diture, &c., is up to the Ist November instant,
to which day the total expenditure amounted to
5,375,483/., and the estimated amount of the gross
sum that will be required for the completion
of the works now in progress, and of the new works
proposed to be executed, is 1,869,2281.—making the
gross amount to be ultimately raised 7,244,711/., or
leaving a sufficient margin for every possible contin-
gency, 7,300,0001., which amount of capital can be
realised by calling up what remains unpaid on the
extension shares Nos. 1 and[ 2, and by exercising
the powers of borrowing Lto the extent of
1,550,0001., including the existing mortgage
commiplesany of
railway
which at present amounts
to 722,0731
only. The
330
wiililwatyl:enfromhave
which tthheeiy;
possession
reasonably enough, on the data that are given,
estimate a gross income of 20,000/ per week,
or 1,040,0001. per annum, which, after pay-
ment of all liabilities for working expenses,
interest on borrowed capital, and rent, will leave a
clear aunual profit of 478,970/. This profit will
suffice not only to pay a dividend of seven per cent.
per annum on the share capital of the company, but
will leave a clear surplus income of 76,4701. per
annum, to meet any contingency that might arise,
and, of course, on a future occasion to swell the
dividend.

The directors have pursued a manly and straight-
forward course in declaring that they are ready to
take upon themselves the responsibilities they have
incurred on behalf of the company in the provisional
arrangements into which they have entered with the
Newcastle and Carlisle, and /111.ryport and, Car-
lisle Railway Companies, in the event of the pro-
prietors being unwilling to accept the leases. It
shows how thoroughly convinced they are of the

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