The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-09 00:00:00

refined, and an educated population. I believe they
will find this to be the case in every respect. It will
return to them in a thousand ways, however little
immediatly concerned the subject-matter of the
studies may appear with the daily business with
which they are connected. In the words of POPE—

"True self-love and social are the same;"

by promoting the good of others you are sure in
the end to promote your own." These are great
comprehensive truths. Through the homage that has
been paid to them, tardily and scantily though it has
been, we have already considerably advanced in the
path of civilisation. Let us but press on with un-
quenchable zeal in the same direction, and inestimable
blessings will crown our exertions, whilst England
will shine with greater lustre than ever as the
greatest nation the world ever produced.

The plan proposed by Mr. O'CONNELL for an as-
semblage of the Irish landlords has obtained many
supporters from amongst those who, a short time since,
would have regarded with the greatest suspicion and
distrust any proposition coming from, or advocated
by, him. In fact, a great body of landowners, and
others interested in the soil of the country, who are
justly solicitous for the continuance and permanency
of the legislative union between Great Britain and
Ireland, and who would be conscientiously opposed to
any project that could by a possibility be turned as a
weapon against that union, had formerly been ac-
customed to consider that all Mr. O'ComiELL's ex-
ertions were directed to the attainment of that which
he avowed to be the great object of his life—the
repeal of that union ; and they imagined that his
every suggestion, his every act must tend in that
direction. Much of the mischief, many of the evils
by which Ireland has so long been oppressed, have
been greatly increased in amount, and continued
for a much longer period than would otherwise have
been the case, in consequence of the mutual distrust,
the unhappy divisions, that existed amongst her
children. Whenever any measure was put forward,
however useful it might be, however little calculated
to injure any person or class, and however strongly
founded on equity and justice, the first inquiry was
not as to the probable results of the measure itself,
the evils it was intended to remedy, the benefits it was

intended to confer, but who was its originator, by
whom was it advocated and supported. If those
parties were obnoxious the measure was condemned.
If it appeared calculated to insure the greatest
advantage to the parties themselves, still they would
shake the head, and say, " You may be sure there is
more in it than meets the eye"—each assumed for his
motto—

" Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes ;"

and arrayed himself in direct hostility to that which he
did not take the trouble to investigate or comprehend
A great and marked improvement has lately taken
place amongst Irishmen of all classes in this respect.
The exigencies and wants of the labouring populations
the imperative necessity that existed for every one to
lend his assistance for the purpose of relieving and
mitigating the existing distress, afforded one neutral
ground where the parties could meet without causes
of disunion arising, and each found that he had been
in the habit of judging rather more harshly of his
neighbour than he deserved, that he was really an
intelligent, well-meaning man, although mistaken in
political opinions, and that he made excellent sugges-
tions,
and took clear views on the subject on which
they were occupied. The sacred cause in which they
were engaged, the difficulties of their own position,
smoothed down the asperities and prevented the
breaking out of the animosities that had previously
existed. We are happy to say that there is much less
prejudice existing in Ireland at this moment than was
the case a few short months ago, before the occurrence
of the visitation that deprived the people of their chief
article of food. The admirable conduct of Mr.
O'CoNwELLhimselfand the great body of his followers;
the prompt and vigorous manner in which the ad-
vocates for physical force were put down and their
doctrines combatted, and their pernicious tendency
exposed ; the good faith observed in abiding so
strictly by the moral force principle, had great effect
in satisfying his opponents of the sincerity and truth of
his declarations, that if an assemblage of, landlords
should be collected together, their proceedings would
be restricted and confined to the object that had called
them together, " to assist in the management of such
• Irish affairs as relate to the approaching famine," and
that neither repeal or any similar subject would be
brought forward on the occasion.

' Mr. RALPH OSBORNE was one of the first who
gave in his adherence to the proposal. He published
a letter calling on his brother landowners " to throw
all political differences to the winds, and by taking
counsel together, endeavour at least to assuage the
calamity which is impending;" and he added "that a
meeting of the landholders of Ireland, with the Duke
of LEINSTER in the chair, would at once insure the
respectful attention of Government and the warm
sympathy of the English people." We think that
attention is already bestowed, that sympathy is not
wanting—from our hearts it is given to our Irish
brethren ; and sincerely do we hope that they may
extricate themselves from the difficulties by which
they are encompassed. Such an assemblage judi-
ciously arranged would act as a central body, to
receive and canvass the suggestions offered by any
for the amelioration of the conditio❑ of the people,
the affording employment of a profitable and re-
munerative character, and the developing to the
utmost the capabilities of the soil. Many projects
that might eventually be most beneficial in their
effects, would be brought forward in such a body that
otherwise would never see the light. These con-
siderations have induced many to coincide with the
opinion of Mr. OSBORNE, and a requisition was pre-
pared, and is in course of signature, for a meeting of
landlords, to be held in Dublin, for the purpose of
pressing upon Government the necessity of at once
summoning Parliament, in order that the provisions
of 9 and 10 Vic., cap. 107, might be altered. Since
that period, however, the Government have taken
upon themselves the responsibility of making that
alteration, the manner of which is set forth in the
letter addressed by his Excellency to the Chairman
of the Board of Works, and which will, in a great
degree, dispense with the necessity of an immediate
assemblage of the Legislature.
The meeting of the nobility and gentry of the
county of Westmeath, which took place on the requi-
sition of the Marquis of WESTMEATH, the Lieutenant
of the county, at Mullingar, on Friday last, and
which was attended by persons of all varieties of poli-
tical opinion, gave additional support to the proposal.
A resolution was carried, that it has become just and
necessary that a meeting of the Irish gentry should
be forthwith held in Dublin, to remonstrate with the
Government on its seeming inaction, and to lay before
it, in feeling terms, the awful condition to which the
country is now reduced.

Although the requisition, or the resolution, is not
in terms in exact accordance with the proposition of
Mr. O'CONNELL, yet they are intimately connected
therewith, and it is extremely probable that such an
Irish national committee of landed proprietors, no-
bility, and gentry, as he recommends, would be
found at the meeting
.alluded to, and which is now
very likely to take place speedily. Should such be
the case, we sincerely hope that their labours may
be productive of benefit to their suffering country.

The treaty of Commerce, recently concluded be-
tween Russia and Turkey, is published in the St.
Petersburgh journals. The following are the princi-
pal provisions of this treaty, which has been concluded
for ten years :
"The tariff at present regulating the duties to be
levied on the Russian commerce in Tarkey, although
concluded in 1842 for 12 years, will not remain in fora•
longer than during the period of the present treaty, and
both are to be renewed at the same time, at the expira-
tion of that term. By article 1, anterior treaties, and
particularly the treaty of 1783, and article? of the treaty
of Adt ianople arc renewed. The port further promises
to Russia the full and entire employment of every right,
benefit, or advantage, which is or shall be hereafter

accorded in its states to the most favoured nations. In
1 virtue of article 2, the customs' duties remain invariably
I fixed at 3 per cent. for foreign commerce, and shall be
levied as here tofore. According to article 3, Russian
subjects or their agents can purchase the produce of the
(soil, or of the manufactories of Turkey, whether to export
them, or to trade with them in the interior of the Otto-
man empire, without being subject to dues of passage,
licenses, &c. This liberty of trading in all the towns
of the Ottoman empire, accorded to Russian subject?,
is partly restricted by Arts. 10 ' and 11, according
to which fishing, and the sale of fish, leeches, alum.
salt, tobacco, snuff, wines, and spirituous liquors are
subject to certain dues in favour of the Ottoman
treasury. Wines and strong liquors cannot be sold in
detail by ALISSiALI subjects, either in shop= or vessel!,