The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-14 00:00:00

)ature.

some incrustations, an unexpected shock, to some ma-
Perim pars of its framework, =gnu Ise, eituer uncle-
signedly or insidiously imparted. On the other
hand, the existence of this sentiment, whilst civilisa-
tion was slowly progressing, has, doubtless, at times,
-aved us from many an infliction, attendant upon
hasty and ill-devised schemes of public policy, and
presented a successful barrier against their accom-
plishment. But now, when the national intellect is
taking such gigantic strides, antipathies, however en-
titled to respect, are fast subsiding, and an en-
lightened people will no longer suffer needless
procrastination to defer legislation when it is urgently
required for the protection of their rights, highly
prized and justly cherished.
The bold and moral attitude assumed by the
unrepresented masses of this community when
they claimed the Reform Bill from the Legis-
lature, will never be forgotten. Their sagacity
taught them that such a measure once obtained,
great moral results would speedily attest the wis-
dom of the concession. Their foresight has not mis-
carried. The firmness with which the demand
was made for a liberal and extended fran-
chise sprang from the petitioners' innate
consciousness that, though the desired boon
was large, it would be righteously exercised by them
,to the promotion of the general weal. The sequel
has shown that this was no hazy or egotistical vision.
It is,
.however, becoming daily apparent that
the high-minded. spirit that ordinarily excites
the electors at large to an honourable fulfil-
ment of their duties, is receiving an indirect
but grievous check, owing to the expensive
and cumbrous machinery of registration which must
at present be worked, before a great portion of the
electoral body can stabilitate their votes for returning
Members to the House of Commons. The consequence
has been that, in some intances, both counties and
boroughs, scared by the expense, have been brought
under the corrupting influence of the aristocrat's
purse, and constituencies have been bought and sold
with as much soig-froid and nonchalance as though
they were so many heads of cattle, or other marketable
commodity. The most recent and remarkable proof
of this growing evil has been furnished by the cele-
brated Berkeleian correspondence. The exposure
herein afforded has startled and disgusted every well-
regulated mind. The registration forms must be
speedily and thoroughly remodelled that we may be
spared the repetition of such shameful electoral
abuse as has been actually systematised in West
Gloucestershire. The unconstitutional traffic that
has been perpetrated in this county has effected this
double wrong :—First, it has involved a large consti-
tuencv—most discreditably to themselves, beyond all
doubt—in the meshes of a large landed proprietor ;
and, next, it has raised the commoner (who lorded
it over the fawning parasites), by two gradations, to
the dignity of an Earl in the British Peerage. Thus
has an evil example been set, in a political sense, of a
most revolting character, calculated to be pernicious
in every way. Nevertheless, our hope is, that
out of evil good will come, and that Parliament will
address itself to the task of providing an adequate
remedy against the continuance of this audacious
prostitution of sacred rights.
Mr. GRANTLEY BERKELEY, M.P., published a long
letter, on the 9th instant, to his "independent" electors.
It entirely confirms the views we embraced of the
meeting that was held at Gloucester on the 3d inst.,
and shortly afterwards submitted to our readers. The
meeting was neither more nor less than a piece of
preconcerted affectation. They wished to make them-
selves out independent, whereas the exclusion of the
press generally, their own private reporters excepted,
and every other step which they took, sufficiently
stamped their proceedings, and has since revealed
their ill-concealed and unpatriotic designs. Lord
FITZHARDINGE is fairly thrown on his haunches by
the reply he has provoked from his brother as to the
pecuniary assistance he vaunted of having given him.
We cannot coin mei,t further upon this letter of three
columns length. We remain of the same opinVin as
we were before, that if West Gloucestershire wishes
to right itself with the public, they must receive no
more money from Earl FITZEIARDINGE, nor return

We yesterday alluded to the meeting of the Royal
Agricultural Society of Ireland, and the important
change that has been effected in the fundamental
rules of that body, by permitting the discussion of
any matter brought. forward or pending in either
House of Parliament, so far as it related to the em-
ployment of the people on the drainage, subsoiling,
and clearing of the land, and the production of food.
These are subjects, as we have already said, peculiarly
within the province of an association founded for the
express purpose of promoting in every manner the
agricultural interests, and the agricultural improve-
ments of the country. It might with some show of
reason have been urged, that so long as the Legisla-
ture abstained from dealing in any manner with
land, that its cultivation and management were
left wholly in the hands of the owners, and
occupiers, and that they were left free from any kind
I of interference, that such a restriction was correct

and pioper. But the instant that Parliament pro-
posed to legislate in respect of land, to effect altera-
tions in the laws relating to the occupation thereof,

and to enact measures which might be calculated to

encourage the cultivation of the soil, to extend a
better system of agriculture, and to improve the re-
lation between landlord and tenant, it became the
duty of the society to emancipate itself from the
trammels by which it had heretofore been fettered, to
give, the benefit of. its experience and the weight of
its authority to measures likely to effectuate these
objects, and to stamp with their disapprobation any
project by which injury might be inflicted on
a class without a more than proportionate
advantage to the nation in general. Such discussions,
so long as they were confined to points affecting the
landed interests of the country, and avoided all
questions which by a possibility could lead to
differences of a political or religious character, would
be most beneficial and valuable. The society, how-
ever, abstained therefrom, as many excellent and
efficient members feared that any relaxation of the
stringency of the rule would be abused, and that
political questions would be intruded that might lead
to bickerings and dissensions, and seriously impair
the general efficiency of the body. Perhaps it may
be as well for the country that the change was not
effected until the present time, when the pressing
difficulties by which the kingdom is encompassed;
and the evidences already afforded by Mr. O'CONNELL
and his followers of the perfect good faith with
which they would observe the pledges into which they
might enter, have enforced the necessity cf a cordial
co-operation of all classes, and have removed, or con-
siderably mitigated, the prejudices and distrust that
existed on every side.
The other resolutions to which we briefly adverted
are essential to the due and efficient carrying out of
the objects of the society, and naturally followed the
abolition of the restrictive rule. By the first, the
" society is formed into a committee, who are to seek
information respecting the extent of the benefit
derived from the present mode of providing employ-
' ment, and the deficiencies of the same, to report upon
such amendments as were desirable, and submit to
the consideration of the proper authorities, from time
to time, such representations as those inquiries
might supply—thus embodying the collective expe-
rience and observation of the society at large."
Here, then, is a realisation of the project for a national
committee, which, if duly followed up, would prove
so beneficial to the nation, and the speedy formation
and valuable results of which we have so warmly
advocated in The Sun. We could scarcely have antici-
pated that the body would have been so speedily con-
stituted, and be at the very moment of its creation so
efficient, and command such weight and influence.
The adoption of the resolution makes the society in
everything but name the National Committee of Ire
land, and gladly do we hail its existence, and tender
it our best wishes fur its favourable progress in the
path in which it has started.
"We have long felt the equity and justice of re-
lieving the landowner who discharges conscientiously
and honourably the duties imposed upon him by the
possession of his property, who gives to his dependents
and neighbours the amount of employment fairly pro-
portioned to the quantity of land in his hands, from the
burdens rendered necessary by the apathy of his
brother proprietors. Their neglect of the labouring
population in their respective localities enforced the
legislative interference ; a labour-rate was required
beL.aLeae they would not afford employment on their
own estates to the people belonging thereto. It was
therefore palpably unjust that the man who per-
formed everything that could be expected or desired
at his hands should be doubly taxed, and the calling
on such a person to pay his proportion of the labour-
rate, without making any allowance for the expendi-
ture already undertaken by him, was not merely
inequitable, but most injurious in its operation. It
too often compelled him to discontinue the useful
works he had commenced, to discharge his work-
men, and to cast them upon the public
works, to the expense of which he was
forced to contribute. With this impres-
sion we long since urged the propriety of exempting
the person who distributed in wages to his own
labourers, selected from amongst the persons for whom
it was necessary to provide employment in the district
in which his lands were situated, from the amount
for which his lands would be liable to the labour•-rate.
We have pointed out the good effects of such a regu-
lation, and we are happy to say many influential
persons have adopted our sentiments in that particular.
We may now number amongst the supporters of the
principle " The Agricultural Society of Ireland."
The last resolution adopted at the meeting
on Wednesday goes the full length of the
views we have advocated. They have re-
solved that the townlands should be made the
units of subdivisions as to assessment in place of
electoral divisions, and that any proprietor undertak-
ing the amount of cess to be levied off each townland
should be exonerated from the assessment of the

baronies.

We cannot doubt that a proposition so just and
reasonable in itself, and now so influentially supported,
will speedily be sanctioned and adopted ; in such a
case, there is little doubt that the great majority
would give the required undertakings, and that they
would direct to works of a useful and reproductive
character that labour for which they must pay, how-
ever it may be occupied; and thus that vast quantity
of labour will be made a source of national wealth
and prosperity, in place of being, as heretofore, a
burden on the resources of the country.

Intelligence from Lisbon to the Bth instant has
been received. The QUEEN'S army, amounting to
4,000 men, and commanded by SAI.DANHA, who had
been created a Duke and Viceroy of the northern
provinces, had marched from Lisbon to attack the
Conde DAs ANTAS, who had his head-quarters at
Leira. The KINQ remained at Lisbon, and did not
accompany the army, as had been announced. The
disaffected were in possession of Santarem.
The Diario publishes a decree suspending the
guarantees fog,. another month ; also a second
decree, ordering all peasants caught in arms to be
shot. It also publishes a letter, which states that
there are 200,000 stand of arms among the
people—every man is armed. The resistance will
be obstinate. A large array of titled persons have
joined and lead the people. Juntas were formed in
almost every town of the kingdom. The QUEEN'S
troops are to bombard Evora on the 7th. Private
letters state that the whole kingdom is in arms to
support DAs ANTAS; that the Government troops
have suffered frequent repulses; and that the cause
of the QUEEN is at the last extremity.

Madrid papers to the 7th inst. have arrived. They
are filled with accounts of a Fquabble between
Count BRESSON and the Tiernpo, which would be
simply absurd, did it not show the wanton' and arro-
gant manner in which the French Proconsul sets all
the laws of Spain at defiance, and glories in forcing
the members of the Spanish Government. to minister
to the degradation of their country. The Tiempo, it
appears, had published an article accusing Count
I3RESSON of having used his interest with Government
to screen a contrabandista from punishment. If
COUnt MIL3SON ft,it flggrieved, the ordinary
tribunals were open to him, but the ordinary trilmnPls
would not suit thr purpose of Count 13n1::i,sox, or of
his employers, who seek on every occusicn to insult,
and, if possible, extinguisl, the sentiment of Spanish
nationality, and accordingly he demands of the Go-