The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-23 00:00:00

Am
4V-VM4II

LONDON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1848.

Latterly we have observed the infusion of retro-
gressive principles into the columns of our Tory Con-
temporaries. To a very enormous extent the jour-
nalism of London has been innoculated with the virus
of Absolutism. •We have regretted this. We have
regretted it profoundly—not only because the cha-
racter of the press of England has been thereby moat
lamentably compromised, but because the perverse
arguments of our brother journalists have induced
them to descend to the grossest distortions of truth,
and to the most odious misrepresentations of the
Democratic movement on the continent. Having
once undef taken to prove that the conduct of the re-
trograde Sovereigns has been marked by the most
exemplary consistency throughout, and that the pro-
ceedings of the revolutionary party have, on
the contrary, been the result of the most
diabolical aberrations of the national intel-

het —it is in no respect surprising that
our Contemporaries should be compelled to bol-
ster up their assertions by every logical or illogical
contrivance, no matter how transparent its insin-
cerity, or how fl igrant its extravagance. Not con-
tented with publishing their own adverse opinions,
they are at last driven to the necessity of printing in
corroboration a mass of statements so garbled as to
in, sit rather contempt than indignation. We write
this more in sorrow than in
g
anin sorrow that
aRy English newspaper Shoulder edn end anger—in
to reduce
an unfortunate and con
nationality through
the medium of narratives emanating
from men who,
on their own showing are too base and coldblooded
in their calumnies to deserve one moment's
ration. The communication to whieh conside-
here about to make particular reference is are
here
characterised by so much turpitude and
heartlessness as to be only comparable to the
notorious red-paper treaty, which elevated MEER
JAITIER to the Viceroyal Throne of Moorshedabad,
while it plunged the astute intellect of OutcuuND
into the horrors of idiotcy and premature decrepitude.
The paper to which we have here made reference
purports to be a narrative of recent occurrences in
the Austrian capital, from the pen of a gentleman
travelling through Southern Germany, and who
himself participated first in the defence and subse-
sequently in the bombardment of the city of Vienna.
The writer is described as a member of the Uni•
verity of Oxford, and his description of several events
of the siege, a description originally inserted in the
columns of the Times, has been lauded as "admirably
gt-dphic" by our Contemporary. how highly this gra-
phic portraiture may tend to elevate in public estima-
tion the character of the Oxford University,
in as far as the author of this narrative may be re-
garded as a epecimen of collegiate morality, we leave
our reader to decide, after he has perused a few sig-
nificant excerpts from the letter of the TimeiCorres-
pondent.
After informing us rather superfluously of a ma-
laria fever which nearly caused his death amidst the
classic scenes of Thermopylae, the troubadour of
Despotism recounts in a few words his arrival in the
Austrian metropolis, immediately before the great

outbreak of the 6th of October. A dirge chaunted
over the body of LATOUR, one of the most ruthless
intriguers of this or any other generation, the mem-
ber of the University of Oxford exults over the
brutalities perpetrated by the savage horde of
Croatians who marched against Vienna under
the banners of JELLACHICII. To enforce this
exultation still more remarkably, the writer in-
dulges in a panegyric upon that sanguinary and
bucaneering Condottieri. Whether the eulogium on
the Ban of Croatia is rational or extravagant the
subjoined passages will attest :
" The old generals who recollect Austerlitz, Moscow,
and Leipsic are comparing with the most brilliant ex-
ploits of Hannibal and Napoleon, Jellachich's march
across Hungary—a hostile and most difficult country—
at a time when the Emperor had repeatedly ordered him
to submit to the rebels, and had left his army wholly un-
provided for. On that dreadful night of the 31st Octo-
ber, I saw the glorious fellow, a young and magnificent
looking man, by the blaze of the burning houses and the
flashing of 200 cannon, lead his wild Croats and Servians
to the storm, his tall white plume shining, like Henri
Quatre's at Ivry, as the pole-star of the whole army. All
agree that he is one of those remarkable men who are
raised up from time to time to mould the destinies of
nations."
Further on, after acknowledging that he had enjoyed
the hospitality of the Viennese, and had been welcomed
with particular affection by the students of the Aus-
trian Universities, our English traveller coolly re-
marks
On Sunday morning, the 29th, my friend H— and
I managed to escape from one of the advanced barri-
cades, whither we had been pressed, into the Leopold-
studs, where we were most kindly received by the troops,
both officers and men, to whom we were able to give va-
lgable information as to the real state and disposition of
the rebel forces."
So that this English Gentleman, this honourable
member of the University of Oxford, was literally a
spy among the unfortunate Viennese, and the un-
blushing informer of JELLACIIICH and WINDISCH-
GRATZ We envy our Contemporary its pride in the
dignity and credibility of its vaunted Correspondent.
To our obtuse comprehension the character of the
member of the University of Oxford, who first be-
trays the Viennese, and afterwards traduces them, is
not one jot less despicable than that of DOBBIN,
the Irish spy, or that of POWELL, the Chartist
informer. Hear him, however, rejoicing over the
do wnfal of the noble capital of Austria, although the
" beautiful suburbs were being riddled with shells
and shot," although his senses were stunned by the
" roar of cannon, the whizzing of rockets, and the
roll of musketry," although " weeping wives, sisters,
and daughters were picking literally piecemeal out
of the ruins the consumed bodies of their relatives,"
and although he, a civilian, was then for the first time
" literally tasting blood"—blood dashed over his face
and clothes when a round shot carried off the head of
an artilleryman !

"It was a beautiful, clear, sunshiny, autumn day, and
all felt that there were trembling in the balance, not
only the fate of the grand old Austrian empire—' An
Siegen and an Ehren reich,' the Monarchy of
Charles V. and Maria Theresa, and so long the
bulwark of Christendom against the Turks but
with it the peace and safety of Europe. At length
the firing behind us gradually slackened, and then
died away, and towards sunset the victorious Impe-
rialists marched back from the field of battle, having
utterly routed the Hungarians, and driven 3,000 of
them into the Danube, which will roll their dead
bodies down to Pesth—a fearful tidings of their defeat.
You may fancy what cheers now arose from the Im-
perialists, and what yells of despair from the rebels,
whose offers of a conditional surrender were now
scornfully rejected."
Not only were the conditional stipulations
thus sternly and " scornfully rejected," but the sol-
diers of Absolutism consecrated their victory
by deluging the capital of their native land with
the bloody libations of vengeance. They were

conquerors over their own kith and kin, desolators of
their own hearths and altars, destroyers of their own
parents, their own brothers, and their own children.
And, with all this, they were implacable ! When
Democracy triumphed in February, the people, by a
sublime decree, abolished the Punishment of Death.
When Autocracy triumphed in October, it proclaimed
a wholesale massacre--the legalised murder of the
multitude ! ROBERT Blum, a representative of the
German Empire in the Parliament of Frankfort, was
killed in cold blood. Jimus FRCEBEL, his com-
panion, was condemned "to be hanged by the
neck until death should ensue," and only escaped
destruction by a miracle of good fortune. MRS-
SENHAUSSR, the unfortunate leader of the National
Guard, was shot on the 18th, after having
passed before the veriest mockery of a tribunal.
AIONBR, the Captain of the Academic Legion,

was merely preserved from a barbarous assas.

sination and a premature grave by the gratitude
of DOBLHOFF, who was saved by the heroism
of that young patriot when the people
would have beaten his brains out in their fury on the
13th of September. Such are a few of the most
prominent consequences of the capture of Vienna by
JELLACHICII and WINDISCHGRATZ. And in alluding
to the rigour of the victors, the Oxford University
spy and correspondent is in a trance of exultation.
" Martial law," says he, with a cynical sneer of in-
difference, " is of course proclaimed, and the leaders
of the revolt are being shot in batches as they are
caught"—mentioning the inhuman battue as calmly as
though the victims were so many wild boars and
jackals 1 But listen particularly to the following
record of these atrocities, and say if the passage is not
despicable for its depraved and inhuman callousness—
" We have seen the execution of several of the chief
students, who had rather 'fraternised' with us as Eng-
lish University-men en our first arrival, but who latterly
had become too great men to condescend to notice or
protect us from outrage ; so we feel no pity for them.
The great body of the students who have borne arms
are to be forced to serve as common soldiers among the
savage Croats, Jellachich drily remarking, in yester-
day's prcclamation, that ' as they had been please,l to
play at soldiers without being called on, they should now
have an opportunity of exercising the profession in a
legitimate way.'"

Surely these sentences need no comment. If an
example of the lengths to which party spirit will
carry a writer had been desired, one more flagrant
than the foregoing could scarcely have been imagined.
Again, we lament that our Contemporaries have de-

generated into the organs of continental absolutism—
that they have compromised the dignity and truthful-
ness of English journalism by enunciating sentiments
which can only excite horror among the abused and
struggling nationalities of Christendom—that they
have condescended to calumniate the population of a
conquered capital, and that they have had the teme-

rity to enforce their misrepresentations with the narra

tive of a man who announces himself to be a spy and
an informer at the very moment he is paraded before
us as a Student of Oxford and a Gentleman of
England.

The speculators of the Stock-Exchange are indeed
a difficult and impracticable body to deal with. It is
impossible to say what will satisfy their expectations.
They are continually craving fur information, and
although every reasonable demand is complied with
they remain querulous and discontented. The expla-
nations offered may be perfectly clear and explicit,
the facts distinct and incontrovertible, the conclu-
sions reasonable and fairly deducible from the
premises. Something will, however, be discovered
to find fault with—something on which to hang an
abjection. It is said that—
" The man convinced against his will
Is of the same opinion still."
prev.tin
di oc
eits !Nei ith the " Bearish" fraternity. Their preju-
theeoinrviiente,satns
dopemraaitnetawinitihngeqaudael
determined
eidn
scepticism.

the publication of the accouw:t
s a universal outcry for
Some weeks since there
sof the several railway
companies ; the most unfounded and
aera.offi rn
al ischievous re-
lt
ports were circulated.
journal, the
weekly Share Litt, published statemenc't pecting the
different companies, which, if well founderdes
that their prospects were of the most unfavourabledusrhable
description, and that inevitable ruin would
speedilyo
overtake the proprietors unless they immediately aban
loned such desperate undertakings. The effect of
those injurious publications was indescribable; the
,hareholders were thoroughly and completely
frightened; railway stock of every description
was depreciated to an extent thut could scarcely
be credited. A general panic prevailed on
every side. The amount of capital still
required was grossly exaggerated. It was gravely
asserted that calls to the extent of 60,000,0001. to
70,000,0001. sterling per annum should be made for
the next three years, and that the country would be
unable to bear so enormous a draw upon its resources.
It was also stated that " dividends" could not he
maintained unless the traffic was increased to an

extent far beyond that which could reasonably
be hoped for. The "Bears" seized upon the
golden opportunity, and for a time the most
extraordinary success attended their operations.
An unexpected change, however, speedily took place.
Several of the most influential companies published
authentic statements of these affairs, which completely
upset the "erroneous statements and calculations"
that had appeared, and proved their own soundness
and stability. The points chiefly relied on by the
" Bears," viz., the sums that should be raised to com-
plete the works, and the amount of traffic required to
maintain the dividend, were made perfectly clear, and
the effects at first were of the most beneficial cha-
racter, prices having improved at least twenty per
cent. upon the appearance of the statement of the
London and North-Western Company. Other " state-
ments" have since appeared, all of them most satisfac-
tory. But the " Bears" maintain the contest, and have
actually, in some instances, turned to their own pur-
poses matters that should have had the most opposite
effect.

We yesterday commented upon the statements
just put forward by the Eastern Counties
and Midland Companies, and gave a full
analysis of the former document. It might
have been supposed that an immediate improve-
ment in the prices of the stocks of both com-
panies would have followed the appearance of
accounts calculated to dispel every apprehension from
the minis of the shareholders. A Contemporary,
whose hostility to the railway interests has passed
into a proverb, in speaking of these statements, says—
" They confute at once some of the more extravagant
estimates that have been drawn up by adverse and
suspicious scrutineers, and form an authentic ground-
work for future and more particular inquiries ;" and
yet, notwithstanding such an admission from a quar-
ter not inclined to regard anything respecting rail-
ways in a favourable point of view, shares
in both companies were yesterday quoted at
lower prices than on the preceding day. We yester-
day showed bow unwarranted was this:result, so

far as the Eastern Counties stock was concerned. We
shall now briefly point out the chief features in the
Midland statement, which should prove perfectly
satisfactory to the shareholders, and the community
in general.

The total capital of the Midland Company—under
every head—will amount, when the works are
completed, to 12,726,2051. Of this 11,957,260/. was
expended up to the 24th October last, and 768,2451.
only was still required, to meet which outlay the
company had the power of making calls to the extent
of 2,602,6151., and were possessed of 9,007 shares of
401. each not yet issued, but valued at 360,2801.
There would, therefcre, be a surplus after providing
for the future expenditure, of 2,194,650/., which
would be applicable to the repayment of loans.
The company will possess 498 miles of railway,
30 miles of canal, and 13 miles of tramway under its
own control, and a pecuniary interest in 92i. miles
of railway, the traffic of which is likely to increase
that of the main line.

The consolidated stock (including a nominal
addition to capital from shares issued at a
discount previous to the amalgamtion of
627,4630 amounts to 11,421,6201. 2s. 4d., of
which 1,191,541/. 4s. 6d. has been paid up. The
debentures, loans, &c., amount to 3,766,4191., but, as
we have already stated, 2,194,650/. will be applicable
to the reduction thereof, which will leave the perma-
nent debt very moderate in proportion to the paid-up
capital.

The estimated average receipts per mile per
annum required to pay a dividend of six per
cent. when the works under contract are completed
and paid for, is about 2,850/. There is every
reason to hope that this sum, which requires
only an increase of 2301. per mile on the receipts of
the year ending the 30th of June, which was a most
unfavourable period, will be fully realised. Sundry
undertakings, for which Acts of Parliament had been
obtained, and which would require an expenditure of
4,630,3251., have been abandoned for the present, and
will not be commenced without the previous sanction
of the shareholders.

The report of the proceedings of the Tory majority
of the town-council of the borough of Lyme Regis
(which appears in another part of our impression of
this evening) completes the history of the art and
mystery of ATTWOODISING boroughs. The story of
the rise and progress of that art is to be found in the
evidence taken before the several Parliamentary
Committees appointed during the course of the last
session to try the petitions complaining of undue
returns for the boroughs of Harwich and Lyrne I
Regis, of Kinsale and of Athlone. The inventor of
this wholesale system of boroughmungering is Mr.
Joan ATTWOOD (of Small and Attwood notoriety) ,
who, fired by the desire of obtaining political
influence, without possessing one single legitimate
qualification by which such influence can be ob-
tained, imagined that those honours might be pur-
chased which could not be won, and that money
might be made a most efficient substitute for wit and
eloquence, and knowledge and statesmanship, and,
accordingly, investing his money in consciences instead
of as heretofore in coals, purchased the power (not the
right) of coercing certain of the voters of Harwich, of
Lyme, of Kinsale, and of Athlone, and, like a
boroughmonger of the " good old times," endea-
voured to return his nominees for each of these
boroughs. At Athlone, at Kinsale, and at Harwich,
he succeeded, although the Members for Kinsale and
Harwich (one of the latter of whom was the great
boroughmonger himself) were, on petition, unseated
for corrupt practices. At Lyme his man was beaten
by a small majority, and it would appear almost as if
Mr. ATTWOOD himself had felt some doubts as to the
result of the Lyme contest from the care with which
he selected his candidate. It was no ordinary person
who was chosen to fight the battle of borough-
mongery at Lyme—it was a man of great talent,
great eloquence, great tact, and not altogether
unacquainted with, or over -scrupulous as to the em-
ployment of, those measures by which a return may
be illegitimately secured. Sir FITZROY KELLY, who
having matriculated in corruption at Ipswich, had
afterwards graduated at Cambridge, was the indi-
vidual chosen by Mr. Jowl ATTWOOD to Ipswichise
the borough of Lyme. Mr. ATTWOOD had, however,
for once been out in his calculations. After a severe
contest, Mr. AunT, the independent candidate, was
returned by a small majority, and an attempt made
by Mr. ATTWOOD to unseat him on petition also
signally failed. Mortified by these repeated defeats,
ax smarting from the pecuniary losses he had ex-
pr

Jerienced—for our boroughmonger had found Lyme
anything but an eligible investment for his cash—he
determined to teach all who were opposed to him
" a great moral lesson ;" after the true CASTLEREAGH
and Absolutist fashion; and having managed by means
of various " gentle influences" to obtain the return
of a majority of Attwoodites to the Town
Council, he forthwith proceeded, through the
instrumentality of a druggist, named MANDER,
to purge the body corporate of all who had opposed
his domination. Accordingly, on the 9th instant, at
the first meeting of the Lyme Town Council, the
Attwood majority proceeded at once to dismiss all the
corporate officers in a body, and this without any ac-
cusation having been brought against them, without
any investigation having been instituted, without
complaint made, without form of trial, In the re-
cesses of a council chamber, from which all save the
Mayor and his satellites were excluded, sentence of
dismissal was pronounced against all the corporate
officers, and they were dismissed instanter. This
is " too bad" even where administrative officers only
are concerned, but the enormity of the offence
and the iniquity of the proceeding is increased
beyond measure when we find that an officer
holding a situation of such responsibility as that
of town-clerk is included in this wholesale
system of dismissal. Mr. WARING, who for thirteen
years has served the office of town-clerk with great
credit to himself, and to the great advantage of the
town, has been summarily dismissed without the
allegation of a single fault against him. The line of
policy thus pursued by Mr. ATTWOOD is as short-
sighted as it is despicable. Violent courses beget
violent retaliations. Mr. ATTWOOD, during the
reign of the Tory Ministry, was, as Member for Har-
wich, one of their ardent supporters, and Mr. ATT-
WOOD
is too shrewd a man of business not to have
exacted and obtained his full share of governmental
patronage during the time his friends were in
power. What would he think of a Liberal Minister
who, carrying out the Attwood policy, should dismiss