The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-02 00:00:00

117._ lat the thinking men of
that party are holding out the olive-branch -to Sir
Robert Peel. The article entitled " Polities and
Personality" in the present number of Fraser is
evidently a feeler, put forth for the purpose of bring-
ing about this reconciliation, and from it we gather
that if Sir Robert Peel will consent to let bygones
be bygones, and once more place himself at the bead
of the Conservatives, and rally their scattered forces,
they will be but too happy to throw overboard the
impracticables, and to yield to the Right. Hon.
Baronet that implicit odedience which of yore he was
wont to exact from them. After speaking of the in-
definite nature of the promises of both the great
political leaders the writer proceeds—
" The Protectionists, that' is to say, the followers of
Lord Stanley and Lord George Bentinck, are equally
indefinite, though more talkative, as to their future
policy. Whether it is to be one of reaction, or only of
revenge, no man yet can say. If we might hazird a
guess, it would be, that, as in the case of private indivi-
duals, there excessive morality has brought them into a
scrape. Human nature cannot sustain long such an
amount of political virtue as they have bound themselves
to ; nor can such exalted moral indignation expend it-
self without some organised, but embarrassing, party
action. Their practice, however, must have a hard
struggle to keep pace with their professions ; and these
are as yet so vague, so tinged with retrospective fury
and prospective passion, as to afford an unsafe ground
even for speculation on their probable conduct. To re-
store our commercial system to the basis of a century
ago—to retrace the steps of all the greatest statesmen of
later years—to repeal, in fact, the repeal•bill, this is
what they threaten ; and we are very far from saying,
that if they could succeed in their object they would not
be rendering good service to their country. But as well
might a child's finger strive to stay a falling rock. We
are in the course of a revolution, and if a reaction comes
it will not be immediately.".

This is pretty clear evidence of an intention not to
" march through Coventry" with Lord George Ben-
tinck, and if this is to be taken as the deliberate ex-
pression of the feeling Of the great majority of the
party, and we believe there can be no doubt but that
it does truly express their feelings, " the Honourable
Gentlemen below the gangway" will, in all proba-
bility, continue to be "below the gangway" to the
end of their Parliamentary existence. Lord Stanley
and Lord George Bentinck having been thus uncere-
moniously thrown overboard, who is to be their
leader ? The following passage, with which the *rticle
concludes, proves to demonstration that they would
most ardently desire that the leader should be Sir
Robert Peel. Speaking of the past session, the
writer says—
" It has been the most trying scene of Sir Robert
Peel's arduous career. Indeed, an opinion wry generally
prevails that he does not desire to resume offiu, but
that if he did, he might be Prime Minister if he liked.
Of what party ? If past treachery did not forbid future
confidence, we might answer—of the Conservative ;- for
there is yet much to be defended. The censure passed
on Sir Robert Peel is not grounded so much on his
policy as on its inconsistency with his past professions.
Although he has lost moral influence with his party, he
has gained ground as a statesman—has shown a strong
will and a definite purpose. He has certainly inspired
vast numbers with the belief that he is the only man to
govern the country. Even those who most reprehend
his proceedings are beginning to urge tbat the corn-
laws formed no essential part of a Conservative system
of policy—that Sir Robert Peel saw they must go, and
took means to anticipate the catastrophe rather than be
overwhelmed in it. 'On the other hand, we must not
over-estimate the facile triumphs of a Bentinck or a
Disraeli. The best speeches of the latter were those in
which he attacked Sir Robert Peel for mediocrity, and a
timid policy as a statesman ; yet as soon as the Premier
adopts the only bold course open to him, he turns round,
and makes the charge of treachery. And of Lord George
Bentinck it should be remembered, that to attack is al-
ways an easy task ; for you take everything .for
granted, and have nothing to prove ; you have only to
assert and to vituperate. Politics are growing to be a
more noble pursuit. They are more removed from the
sphere of court caballing or caprice, and cabinet in-
trigue, and are more and more open to the influence of
public opinion. New laws of political morality are
thereby rendered necessary. One significant fact must
have been remarked. Sir Robert Inglis, although ho
deprecated, more in sorrow than in anger, the conduct
of Sir Robert Peel, adopted a very moderate tone
throughout the session. Does he perceive that the
Whigs are already preparing an organisation against the
Church, beginning with the Irish branch of the Esta.
blishment, and foresees therefore a reunion of the Con-
servative party in its defence ? If so, his evident
desire not to exasperate Sir Robert Peel, or to drive
him beyond the pale of Conservatism, may bo ac-
counted for."

The fact is, the party has discovered that the con-
verse of the Duke of Richmond's celebrated boast is
true—that Sir Robert Peel can destroy the party, but
the party cannot destroy Sir Robert Peel—that with-
out him they can do nothing, but that without them
he can do everything, and that at this moment he occu-
pies a prouder position, and possesses more real power
as a statesman, independent of all party, than he ever
could have occupied or possessed so long as he remained
a mere party leader. The opening paper of the num-
ber on the "History of Etruria" is a valuable contribu-
tion to archaeological science, and it is followed by a
dream of horrors entitled " Nightmare on the Rails."
Imagine yourself riding at the rate of 100 miles an
hour on an express engine, with a driver who during
the journey has been seized with a fit of insanity and
has thrown off the stoker and killed him, and you may
kingt gait the horrors conjured up by the
Daughter" is concluded, and so are Colonel Mitchell's
strictures on the " Principal Campaigns of Napoleon."
Napoleon is to Colonel Mitchell what water gruel
was to Gervase Skinner when in the lunatic asylum—
his " favourite aversion " and like Gervase Skinner,
he loses all power of self-control when the name of
his " favourite aversion "is mentioned. He thus
sums up what he .calls the " Bastard Caesar's real
character."

" The impartial reader of history will then see, that
this boasted man, at all times as callous of heart as desti-
tute of principle, possessed but moderate talents, was
presumptuous and arrogant in the hour of prosperity,
timid, destitute of resources, deficient in firmness—his
high station considered deficient even of personal
courage in the hour of adversity."

The very violence of this tirade destroys its effect, and
it is marvellous that Colonel Mitchell, who on other
subjects can write sensibly enough, will suffer his
prejudices so to override his judgment when Napoleon
is the theme of his discourse. That be can write
sensibly this very paper affords-abundant evidence.
Take the following on the effects of the system of
purchasing commissions in the British army as au
example :

" The science of war is a sealed book to the officers of
the British army ; they rise by purchase and interest,
and not by merit. The language having no military
literature, no means of professional study are open to
those who might be desirous of acquiring knowledge ;
the minds of the best, therefore, remain uncultivated
and deprived of those strengthening and invigorating
elements which necessarily result from knowledge, study,
information, and the power and habit of reflection to
which those endowments give rise. Men of high genius,
guided by the brilliant light of inspiration, may not
require such artificial aids ; but even genius is improved
and enlarged by knowledge, and, above all, the mass of
men belong to the ordinary class, and it is for this class
that the institutions of a country must be calculated.
Men of high, lofty, and commanding genius, belong to
the rare production of nature. Able men, on the con-
trary, are to be found at all times, and in all countries,
and in no country more frequently than in Britain ; but
they are not, and cannot be, above deriving benefit from
knowledge ; and the system of preferment, which sets
study and information at nought, which deprives an
army of the best qualities its very officers might possess,
and gives rank and almost boundless control over the
fortunes of soldiers to the mere possessor of wealth, re-
gardless of his deserts, which are as often low as high,
must ever be as injurious as dishonourable to a great and
enlightened country,"

Nothing can be more admirable than this, and it is
greatly to be regretted that Colonel Mitchell does net
always write thus. " Mr. Roebuck" is the contem-
porary orator for this month ; and in the way of fun
we have an admirable quiz npon the high Clerman
school of novel writing in the story of " The New
Werther." We recommend its perusal to all Ouse
learned gentlemen who prose about aesthetics. They
should go to Bonn at once, and join Herr Stein-
hausen's wsthetical teas to understand the science
properly. The other papers of this number are of
more than average merit.

oinfgjoltilnie-
Died, of consumption, on Sunday
.
18th of October, Mr. George e
their
illness,
loss. The
aged The i1137,11
leav-
ingstre eat Waterloo-road,
wife
taenrdl otoh•rreoea d , afterchildren
the Morning Chronicle,
a good husband, indulgent fat''r•r
deceased had been empalnody_ewadjatfesfoe:rhwkeitinmhleesio'yrineatshrttehsse'tpeeen
teydeahr)s.
hison
possessed
companions.
with humour and
a cheerful an
and faithful friend. lelinievde.wlyas disposition,-
Previous
e his
ri. e h illness
NN•i he
1. • •
ready wit. Indeed, it may be said, no man in the bu3i-
ness was more esteemed when lying, and, at his death,
none more deeply regretted by all who knew him. He
was always foremost to render assistance to his needy
fellow-workmen ; and, as an instance, it may be men-
tioned, that he was one of the principal promoters and
chairman of the committee for conducting the Amateur
Dramatie Performance that took place at the Strand
Theatre, in February last, for the benefit of the Printers-
Pension Society, at which 501. were realised for that
excellent institution. It is hoped that when all appeal
shall be made to the trade in behalf of the widow and
children of so worthy a member, it will be responded to
in a manner that will show the honourable and deserv•
ing are nut forgotten. The deceased was interred on
Saturday last, at St. John's Church, Waterloo-road, in
the presence of hundreds of his friends and companions.
SUNDERLAND BRIDGE.--011 Tuesday the tolls of
the bridge at Sunderland, which last year were let for
upwards of 2,000 L, were, after a spirited competition,
knocked down at 1,010/. ; and the tolls of the ferry-
boat, which last year realised upwards of 1,2004 were
let for 980/. The rents obtained this year arc much
greater than were expected, especially for the bridge.
after the total abolition of the foot toll, and the reduction.
of all the other tolls to one half of the SUM hitherto
charged for each animal and vehicle.

I not at all surprised to find till