The Sun.
London, England, 1833-01-01 00:00:00

the agriculturists of Northamptonshire the other
day that his Majesty's Government did not
intend to sanction any alteration in the corn
laws; and here we have one of the Noble Lord's
Right Honourable Colleagues describing these
same laws to the manufacturers of Manchester
as an exploded and obsolete folly, and sarcas-
tically asking how long they can possibly last ?
It will be observed that the singularly modest
Mr. Poulett Thomson claimed for the Adminis-
tration, of which his speech intimates that he
considers himself the presiding and controlling
member, the merit of being the first Govern-
ment possessing the confidence of the people
that ever existed in any country ; and that he
cautioned his hearers very anxiously against the
folly of withdrawing any portion of their con-
fidence on accoont of the mutual surrenders and
compromises of opinion which its various mem-
bers may, from time to time, be under the ne-
cessity of making to each other. The true
meaning to be extracted from all this is, we sup-
pose, that the Ministers differ widely from each
other upon many questions of great importance
to the country ; but that they enjoy and deserve
the confidence of the country nevertheless, on
account of their unanimity upon one question
of great importance to themselves, namely,
" How many more quarter-days shall we see in
office ?" To which they are all ready to answer,
not in words merely, but by mutual compromises
and surrenders, to any required extent, " As
many as we can."—Morning Post.
Another year of existence has passed away,
and what a year has it not been to the people
of Europe ! How pregnant with events of the
highest importance to the cause of humanity
and civilization ; how important to human free-
dom in the results which haVe been attained !
On this same day twelvemonths it was a matter
of doubt with all rational-minded persons whe-
ther the liberties and rights of Englishmen
would be restored to them—whether the oli-
garchy would triumph over the people of Eng-
land, or the voice of justice and of right would
triumph over the oligarchy—whether the latter
would choose the Members of the House of Com-
mons, or the people choose freely and independ-
ently their own representatives, as by law enti-
tled—whether the Reform Bill would become
the law of the land by peaceful means, or the
Constitution be shaken to its foundations, in
order to render it part and parcel of the law of
the land. Never, in fact, since the glorious re-
volution of 1688, was the internal peace of the
country in such hazard of being broken—never
did party fury rage to such an extent—never
was the throne in so much danger as it was
during the last twelve months. Of the ulti-
mate fate of the Reform Bill there could be
no doubt in any one's mind ; but whether it
would be carried last year or this year—whe-
ther it would be passed into a law with or
without the consent of the Peers—in due course
of legislation, or by that power—the power
of the people—which is irresistible, whether
legally or illegally exercised—no one could tell.
It was a subject of doubt—of dismay—of
despondency ; and to complete the anxiety of
the public mind upon it, the most unworthy
artifices were employed to root out the King's
Ministers from the affections of his Majesty—
the hydra of Anti-Reform again reared its head
in an unfavourable division in the Lords—those
in whom only the people had confidence
resigned their seals of office, and the Mar-
shal of an Anti-Reform Cabinet was again
seen, to the dismay and indignation of the
people, to enter the King's palace in the
panoply of illiberalism, and full hatred of
popular rights ! The triumph, however, was
but of short duration. Like Jonah's gourd, it
grew and died in a day—the voice of the people
burst forth in one universal acclaim, from one
end of the kingdom to the other, for the return
of his Majesty's previous advisers to their pre-
vious situations—the chains with which the
oligarchy again hope to bind the people of
England, were rent asunder—the Lords im-
posed upon themselves a necessary silence, and
the Reform Bill became the law of the land,
despite of faction, despite of intrigue, despite
of Royal prejudice. By virtue almost of
the same Act, the old Parliament, which
was founded on corruption and nomineeship,
was extinguished, and we have since seen a
new one rise upon its ruins, great in the strength
and confidence of the people—and about to en-
dear itself, we hope, to their affections, by a
long course of national economy, national re-
trenchment, and national improvement. A new
day star has risen upon us--may its light be as
lasting as it is grateful, glorious, and full of
promise ! Of the external events with which
the past year has been pregnant, we have
only room to observe, that they have terminated
in an equally favourable manner to the cause of
universal freedom. The Conservative interest
has every where been put to the rout—popular
revolution has triumphed—a new kingdon has
been added to the pre-existing states of
Europe—the bonds of amity have been drawn
closer between the most free and most civilized
states of Europe—and if it must still be con-
fessed that there are dark and lowering specks
in the European horizon, it must also be
admitted that there are many bright ones, and
that at no period of the history of Europe, did
the prospects of the human race look so fair and
pleasant. To conclude—the tide of human
improvement has long been rolling towards the
shore—ita movement is still onward- and on-
ward—its strength accumulating with its pro;
gress, and though there are still obstacles to be
overcome, and opposition to be surmounted,
yet who shall say that it will not triumph ?
Who will undertake to stern its torrent or stay
its course?—Morning Advertiser.

Nothing would have afforded us greater plea-
sure than to have been enabled to announce that the county
of Northumberland had taken the foremost rank amongst
the reforming counties, but a powerful opposition has been
made to its independence, and we are sorry to say with
too much effect, one Tory having been returned for each
division. For such a result in one division we were
certainly prepared, but we must confess that the return for
the southern division has been a source to us of severe dis-
appointment. We relied with confidence on the pledged
promises of a majority of the electors of the southern divi-
sion to support the two reform candidates ; but we have
been deceived, many of the electors unable to resist the
corruption with which they have been assailed, have
basely proved false to their word, and meanly given a tri-
umph to the enemies of Reform.—Newcastle Chronicle.
The stuff trade of Halifax and Bradford is
not so lively as it has been, but the general opinion is that
more business is doing than usual at this time of the year.
—Leeds Mercury.

ROCHDALE, DEc. 24.—The flannel market
to-day was very slenderly attended, but the goods sold
readily, low pieces continue to be sought after. The trade
is more brisk than it has been at Christmas for several
years past.—Leeds Mercury.

IRON TRADE.—We have much pleasure in
being able to state that a slight increase has taken place
in the price of iron, which, although at present confined to
particular Works, augurs well for a general rise in the
spring.— Cumbrian.