The Sun.
London, England, 1834-01-22 00:00:00

SAGITTARIUS.

LITERATURE.

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE APART FROM

TAXATION.
BY DANIEL WAKEFIELD, JUN., ESQ.

Did we not know to the contrary, we should
have been inclined to pronounce, from the in-
ternal evidence in this book, that it was written
by the author of " England and America." The
turn of thought in both is the same, the materials
they use are often the same, and many of the
objects they have in view appear to be the same.
There is, however, one important distinction be-
tween the two writers. The author of " Eng-
land and America" has evidently thought more
upon his subject than the author of " Public
Expenditure" has upon his. The volume be-
fore us has the appearance of having been
wiitten because the author's feelings were strongly
excited by the materials he had collected in his
portfolio. Let us endeavour to give the reader
some idea of the author's thoughts. He consi-
ders expenditure not with a view to the taxation
which must be imposed on the people in order
to supply it, but with a view to its larger effects
for good and for evil, whether it be too
low or too high. In the first part of his
book he contends that the pay of soldiers, of
sailors, of the new police, and the inferior clergy,
is too low. We must say we doubt whether
the pay of soldiers or of the new police be too
low, considering the advantages of certainty of
employment, clothing, lodging, food, &c., they
enjoy. We cannot either go the whole length
the author does in what he says respecting the
consequences of the present rate of pay received
by sailors. That it is too low in time of war
must be Omitted, from the degree of difficulty
experienced in then obtaining men ; but a part
of this difficulty has arisen from the arbitrary
and oppressive conduct of the boys who have
been placed in comtnand over them—conduct
encouraged, if any thing, by the gross corruption
which has, after the most flagrant acts of de-
linquency, procured pardons, and even fresh
emoluments for their perpetrators. The adoption
of a more humane system of discipline will, no
doubt, save us much of the expense which it
would be otherwise necessary to go to, in order
to bring about the abolition of impressment,
and enable us to prevent our sailors from de-
serting to America.
Upon the subject of the too low pay of the
inferior clergy there can hardly be a second
opinion.

In the last and larger portion of his work,
Mr. Wakefield enters upon the wide field of the
evils of excessive pay. The following observa-
tions on our diplomatic appointments will afford
the reader a fair sample of the style of the work :
" Although a man have now and then become an
ambassador by means of ability or industry, the representa-
tives of the nation, in foreign countries, are mostly taken
from the aristocracy, with little or no reference to the
qualifications of the person appointed. Indeed, with very
few exceptions, it has been the practice to make diploma-
tists of the younger branches, and often of the heads of
the richest and most powerful families in the kingdom.
In many cases these persons have possessed princely for-
tunes, and very few of them have not been intimately con-
nected with peers powerful in the commons, or with
commoners of large possessions in land or in the funds.
Again, the age of a diplomatic servant has never been
considered a matter of importance. A raw youth, or a
decrepid man of seventy, is squally eligible to many posts
to which large salaries are attached. The consequence of
proceeding thus in choosing functionaries has been, that
their appointments have been looked upon by the Govern-
ment as a useful means of supporting itself at home, rather
than as a means of efficiently performing the task of pro-
tecting the interests of England in foreign countries. *
Being brother to an Earl is a better qualification to be an
envoy extraordinary, with many thousands per annum,
than the most intimate acquaintance with the language,
history, or existing relations of a particular country.
Being an Earl, if the Earl's friends be in power, is a better
claim to an important embassy than having unrivalled and
universal knowledge ; and being a Duke is a title to re-
present England in any part of the world, that must pre-
vail, be its possessor as devoid of merit as the pummel of
his diamond-hilted sword. 'What, then, it may be na-
turally asked, is the occupation of English ambassadors,
and of ministers extraordinary and plenipotentiary ? • *
The only subject, indeed, respecting which he is called
upon to exercise discretion, is in affording protection to his
countrymen abroad. Even of this pertion of his duties,
however, the most troublesome part falls on the subor-
dinates. If in case of ill-treatment of British subjects by
a foreign government, an application for assistance be
made, an ambassador merely decides whether the complaint
shall he listened to or not. The secretaries of the em-
bassy refuse or afford the protection demanded, so that the
chief of a diplomatic mission has, in reality, little to do
beyond going to court and keeping open a good house.
Hence the splendour and profusion of an ambassador's
establishment in foreign countries is proverbial. In the
large towns of Pat is, Petersbuigh, and Vienna, our diplo-
matic servants vie with the first people of the country in
luxury of all kinds; and in the small towns, such as
Naples, Florence, and Genoa, they live more splendidly
than the King to whom they are accredited. The portion
of time occupied in rendering service for the enormous
s ilaries which enable English diplomatists to live in this
way, is, in reality, next to nothing. The most important
business generally transacted by them, is taking care to
have the most brilliant equipage, the best kitchen, the best
wine, and the prettiest oanseuses of the country in which
they reside. Writing to Paris for a new cook is a grave
morning's work for many a minister plenipotentiary from
his Britannic Maj,sty. * Generally a man who
displays knowledge, quickness, prudence, assiduity, and
zeal in transacting business, can manage to support his
own dignity, and that of his employers, without extrava-
gance or waste. But the chief business of English di-
plomacy is ostentation ; the practice of an art in which
two and two do not always make four. The supporters
of this system maintain that the dignity of England is
better upheld by keeping a retinue of servants, giving large
parties, and travelling with a suite of carriages, than by die
playing the qualities remarkable in American diplomatists.
An English ambassador, they say, had better cut a dash in
an inn-yard, and rival Russian slave-owners in the estima-
tion of French postboys, than render real services for his
princely pay. * * * ' What is the cause of negligence, ex-
travagance, and cupidity, in our diplomatic servants ? It
can be nothing but enormous emolument, or in other
words, disproportion of pay to service. There can scarce
be a doubt, that if the salaries of ambassadors were dif-
ferent, the receivers would be chosen from a different
class of society ; that if they were paid no more than
Franklin
was paid, they would be frugal, industrious men
oconducted
business, and English diplomacy might, perchance, be
like that cf America. If hundreds were sub-
witted for thousands, if the salary was in the ratio of the
There is scarce
townt
service, the
a
places would cease to be objects of ambition
amongst a
nobility,
ocean, thtt not
onwhomt
e continent
t naesn
tb, been, justly a jruosctklyinsatihde,
if
afford them provision in the shape of
a place.'
the English resident at Paris, who
does little more than
execute
s u.orders that can be sent from
London in a few hour re.paid at the same rate as men
performing the same sort of b
who would seek the place ? Nsiontestshein other departments,
,half ruined brother
rno asithock-
of a marquis, alieni appetens, sui prof, s
jobbing Tory lord, not a gambler, who thinksi not
th
loosing five hundred at a sitting, but
p
probably a lg'of
aln
although a shrewd and careful man, like those who soad:
rnirably represent the United States in all parts of the
world."
The following remarks upon the mode in
which the legislative business of the country
is performed, and its causes, have but too much
foundation in justice :
" Our mode of doing legislative business, however,
must be a subject of pity or indignation, rather than of
wonder, to those who reflect on the wide difference of

character between the makers of English laws, and those
for whom the laws are made. No intelligent man can
feel surprised that the majority of the House of Commons
does not sympathize, for instance, with the men of Man-
chester, Birmingham, Liverpool, or Leeds. These later
are men of business, active, industrious, persevering,
watchful, determined pursuers of profit; not given to idle
speculations, nor distracted by attending to various sub-
jects, but filled full of one idea—that of employing capital
so as to obtain the greatest possible return for it. The
former, the men of the House of Commons, are fanciful
theorists, or wild Irish, or dandies, or prodigals harassed
by debts, or Nimrods, or clod-hopping persons, without
even one idea, mixed up with some clever men who would
make excellent jugglers—but how many are practical and
safe men? That such an assembly should mismanage
business, so as to inflict all kinds of injury on the country
is not surprising. Except in cases where corruption
makes them act in a particular way, they treat the affairs
of the nation just as they treat their own affairs. The
industry, knowledge, and capability which they bring to
the consideration of their own concerns, being very little,
and they being incapable of bringing more than they pos-
sess of these qualities to the consideration of public con-
cerns, it cannot be a matter of wonder that they behave
as they do. But why do such persons become legislators?
Because there is an extravagant expenditure. Tile sys.
tematized profusion of the Government holds out tetnpta-
tions to men of all kinds to inflict their presence upon the
Great Council of the nation, with almost a certainty of
benefit to themselves, and with an absolute certainty of
injury to every body else. The prodigality then, the
dearness of the Government, is the mother of all the evils
springing from careless, ignorant, and venal legislation.
Who can describe or even number them ? The millions
who suffer from antiquated institutions may answer, if
they can. The agricultural labourer, who has become
half peasant and half slave, from the operation of the corn
and the poor laws, can show his wasted body. The
over-worked and under-fed artizan in manufacturing towns
has often told his tale of wretchedness. The voice of
barbarous Ireland, hungry in the midst of plenty, has long
ago been choked in blood. The struggle is vain, and the
tight is hopeless, whilst the base lucre'of gain is a load-
stone to the House of Commons, attracting all who have
sense enough to know that having something is better
than having nothing.

" The correctness of this estimate of the Lower House
of Parliament will be proved by a cursory review of the
proceedings during the Session which has just ended.
During that period the great defect of the reformed House,
already noticed, its not being a deliberative assembly, has
been prominent on every occasion. The only rule of
action has been confidence, blind confidence in the Mi.
nistry. Proofs of the existence of this principle were
seen in the general tone and behaviour of our reformed
legislators, in every measure decided upon, and in the
mass of business postponed in compliance with the desires
of the Government. During the whole of the Session a
disinclination even to bear any but Ministerial speakers
was remarkable ; to which was added, an extraordinary
readiness to believe in the promises of the Ministers, at
all times and upon all subjects.
" This predisposition on the part of the House being its
only guide, caused it to choose a Tory President, because
the Ministers said they should like to have one—to pass
the Coercion Bill on the faith of the promise of a complete
Irish Church Reform—to behave with ludicrous absurdity
respecting the malt tax, when left to themselves for only
a day—to approve first of a loan of fifteen millions to the
planters, and then of a gift of twenty millions, both these
very different measures being Ministerial—to shout for
the principle of the 147th clause of the Irish Church Bill,
and then shout for the abandonment of that clause—to be
contented with a promise from Ministers respecting mili-
tary flogging and the assessed taxes—to put off business
respecting which more than a hundred notices for next
Session appeared as soon as the last one bad closed—and
last, but not least—to truckle to the House of Lords,
contrary to the wishes of the intelligent bulk of the nation.
Reference to only a portion of the conduct of the Govern-
ment will show that this blind confidence was ill placed !"
We must confess that we are more inclined to
make allowances for the difficulties with which
Ministers have been surrounded during the last
two years, than Mr. Wakefield appears to be ;
but the Government may be assured, that his
sentiments are the sentiments of many, and that
unless they rely more upon the people, conciliate
more the people, feed them and trust them
expectation of support from the Tories is mere
folly, and from the Whigs in the House of Com.
mons, independently of the people, little less..
Both the House of Commons and the Ministry
have yet to learn what a general election under
the Reform Bill will be in the hands of a disap-
pointed nation.

We understand that Mr. Galt intends 'to pro-.
ceed to Canada in the spring, or early in the summer.
The reason for his departure is, we regret to say, conti-
nued indisposition, which prevents Mr. Galt from
attending to literary pursuits or any business in this
country, and be hopes that the change of climate will be
serviceable to him.

Sir Charles Flint expired on Sunday, at his
house in Bolton-street, Piccadilly, of a paralytic affection
and water in the chest, in his tS6th ye Ir. Sir Charles
was trustee under Mr. Thelluson's will, which gave rise
to so much litigation, until an act of the Legislature put
an end to the contention.

BRISTOL TIIEATRICALS.—Mrs. Alacready
has taken the Bristol theatre for a short season, and will
open it in a few days. A most excellent company has been
engaged, amongst whom is our old favourite John Gardi-
ner, who, during the latter part of poor Kean's career, was
so eminently successful at the Richmond theatre.

FESTIVITIES AT WYNYARD HOUSE.--The
Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry have been
entertaining a numerous party of distinguished friends,
at their seat near Durham. Saturday last was the birth-
day of the Marchioness, whe❑ her Ladyship completed
her 34th year, on which occasion a grand dinner was
given, covers being laid for sixty. Amongst the com-
pany present were—the Duke of Rutland, Earl of
Eglington, Lord and Lady Howden, Lord and Lady
Ravensworth, Lord Castlereagh, Sir F. Trench, Captain
and Hon. Mrs. Emily Wortley, Captain and Hon. Mrs.
Trotter, Captain Remick, Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Trevor,
Captain Wood, &c. The principal saloon, which has
recently been splendidly re-decorated, was thrown open.
A ball terminated the festivities of the day. The
guests were to remain some days, when French plays
and other entertainments were to be got up for their
amusement.

We mentioned last week a report, derived
through a source which we thought entitled to credit, that
letters had been received from Miss F. Kemble signed by
her married name, Mrs. Butler. We can now state posi-
tively, on the best authority, that she is not yet married,
and that she will ❑ot be married to Mr. Butler until the
expiration of all her engagements in America, in June
next. Letters to that effect have been received from Mr.
C. Kemble, dated near the middle of December, and in
them it is also said, as we are informed, that Mr. C.
Kemble has made up his mind to return to England in the
approaching summer, and not to remai❑ for another year
in the United States.—Morning Chronicle.

LONGEVITY AT HELSTON.—We last week
mentioned the ages of six persons who attended a funeral
at He!stop, and which amounted to 500 years. We are
informed there are in the poor-house at that place 12 men
paupers whose united ages amount to 968 years ; and also
12 women, whose united ages amount to to 918 years,—
making together 1,886 years for 24 persons, the youngest
of whom has attained her 70th year.-- West Briton.
GODOLPIIIN, OR THE OATH.—A contem-
porary styles this powerful novel " the season's finest and
most flourishing production:" but this opinion has been
echoed by critics in general. Be it remembered, we were
among the first to testify to the high genius which pervades
almost every page. Who the author is has nut been, and
probably never will be, discovered. In the preface to the
new edition, he remarks :—" I see the principle and moral
of this book slowly working their way. To tell truth of
one period is to prophecy the events of the next. Adieu,
reader !—would'st thou see me unmasked, thou must come
behind the scenes of this world ; and when the lamps are
out, and the curtain dropped, thou shalt know me for
what I am."

LOADUTONES.—During a recent course of
experiments at the Museum at Brussels, Professor Que.
telet exhibited a loadatone of extraordinary and attractive
power. This loadatone only weighs 27 kilogrammes, but
can support 196, more than seven times its weight. The
Professor stated that the loadatone previously supposed to
possess the greatest power was in London, which, how-
ever, could only bold a weight of 50 kilogrammes (1001 b.)
—Athenceum.

FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE.