The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-23 00:00:00

ledgment in reference to that journalism which, in
1848, was allowed on all hands to have
constituted a Provisional Government in the
Hotel de Ville, if it did not actually subvert a throne
and transform a monarchy into a republic. "It is
useless to deny the fact," says the Journal des Debats,
"we are not popular." Allowing, for the sake of
argument, that such is actually the case, the recent
prosecutions are not upon that showing, it must at
the moment be allowed, by any means whatever jus-
tified. On the contrary, it would appear that from
that very reason only a frivolous waste of power
to be thus employing a tyrannical energy
for the punishment of organs which, one
might imagine, to be sufficiently punished, also,
by the unpopularity. " Public opinion," continues
the Debats, "is in one of those periods of reaction
which always succeed irregular commotions." Upon
that understanding it is worse, immeasurably worse,
than an idle expenditure of the energies of the Exe-
cutive to be dealing thus harshly with the journals of
Paris, inflicting upon their gerants or redacteurs at
pleasure penalties, fines, or imprisonments. By
acting in this arbitrary manner the Government is
adopting the most effectual course imaginable for the
reinstatement of those newspapers, and the individuals
conducting them in popularity, acknowledged to be a
caprice on the part of the population. Render the
most unpopular journalist in the country an object of
general sympathy, by placing him in the position of
one who has fallen a victim to the severity of an un-
merited and despotic prosecution, and you endow
him with that very influence in an aggravated form,
both as to its intensity and its magnitude, which you
are solicitous in reality to diminish or to annihilate.
Precisely after this fashion are the members of the
French Government acting under the present emer
gency, enhancing the very power they would deterio-
rate by acts of oppression as ill-advised as they are
altogether unjustifiable.

Transferring our scrutiny from the direction of
Paris to that of Vienna, turning from the Republic
of France to the despotism of Austria, we perceive
at the present moment the same rash interference
with the press on the part of its insolent and domi-
neering Government. Among the most recent and
most flagrant evidences of this violation of all the dic-
tates of right reason is that of the virulent prosecu-
tion of the editor of a facetious periodical called the
Humourist. What Punch is in London, and the Cha-
rivari in Paris, the Humiturist is in Vienna, a vehicle
for drolleries of the most subtle or of the most bizarre
description, having a social or political tendency, ac-
cording to the inspiration of the contributors. For
the perpetration of a joke which, if published in the
volumes of Punch, might only have provoked a smile
on the lips of her MAJESTY'S Ministers, the unfor-
tunate conductor of the Humourist was very recently
condemned to no less than two months' imprison-
ment ! While, however, the writer might be punished,
it proved on the trial that the wit could not by any
possibility be dumbfoundered, M. SAPHIR, the person
in question, demanding naively in open court whether
it was treasonable to repeat the Lord's Prayer, seeing
that " deliver us from evil" might be construed into
an aspiration for the overthrow of the Government ?
It would appear, in truth, that despotism is ever
demented in its dealings with a power which defies
its authority more effectually, the more frequently,
and the more vigorously it is assailed. From the
period when MILTON raised his majestic voice in be-
half of the press, until our own, the arguments in
favour of its remaining unfettered have only been
multipled with every additional instance of persecu-
tion. And journalism, as if in testimony of this, has
risen scathless from every attack, and not
only scathless, but with a vigour materially enlarged
by its contentions with its assailants. Ultimately the
fact of this consequence must become so manifest to
the more despotic Governments of Christendom, that
with an eye to their own security they will be induced
to refrain from any similar indulgence of their ani-
mosity. Journalists will then be alike denied the perils
of prosecution and the glories of martyrdom.

A respected Irish Contemporary, Saunders's News-
Letter, states that a very influential company has
been formed in England, at the head of which is the
PRINCE CONSORT for the purpose of buying up lands
in Ireland. It adds that the purchases are expected
to be on a most extensive scale, and that persons in
their employment are now busied in obtaining infor-
mation on the spot as to the position and value of
various estates. Although we willingly acknow-
ledge the early information and general
accuracy of our Contemporary, and its caution
against lending the sanction of its name to any un-
founded rumours, we fear that in the present in-
stance " the wish is father to the thought." We
receive the announcement, fearing that it is " too
good news to be true." Whether, however, the
account may be relied on or not, of this we are cer-
tain, that an undertaking more profitable to the
shareholders, and beneficial to the community at
large, could scarcely be devised. It would, in-
deed, be but following out the advice of Sir ROBERT
PEEL, so emphatically tendered, the result of his
deliberate and unprejudiced judgment. We heard
much at the time of the intentions to act on
these judicious suggestions. The corporation of
London took the matter in hand, and for a time all
appeared couleur de rose. Unfortunately, however,
the enthusiasm subsided, and nothing practical was
achieved by any public body, or, with some rare and
honourable exceptions, by private enterprise. We
still saw valuable estates submitted to public com-
petition, with a certainty that no reasonable
offer would be refused, and under circum-
stances as to title more favourable to pur-
chasers than had ever previously been offered, without
producing any corresponding effect. A species of
panic hung over the market, the supply largely ex-
ceeded the demand, and although capitalists freely
acknowledged that each successive lot was disposed of
far below its real value, and that excellent bargains
were in every instance obtained, they could not be
induced to come forward, appearing to think that
Irish estates were "a drug in the market," that
could be obtained at any prices that the
consciences of bidders might induce them to offer,
and that ten, twelve, or even fourteen per cent., was
only a fair return for money invested in real estates
on the other side of St. George's Channel.
Many will, hereafter, have cause to deplore
this strange delusion, to regret the golden opportuni-
ties they have let slip through their fingers ; but it
is not yet too late to repair their mistake. Bargains
may still be obtained, although not at the ridiculously
inadequate prices that have heretofore prevailed ;
well circumstanced estates cannot now be obtained at
ten years' purchase, but they may be had at two-thirds
of their actual value, and which, we have no doubt,
will be willingly paid for them in a very few
years. Everything at this moment is calculated to
improve the value of land in Ireland. The super-
abundant population is rapidly thinning, and the flight
across the Atlantic will speedily complete what
famine commenced and pestilence continued.
There is now a rage for " emigration." Every one
that can accomplish it is now flying from his father-
land, and the movement is not restricted to the
peasantry, but substantial farmers, the very thews
and sinews of the country, are participating.
There will be ample room for the new corners,
who will be cordially welcomed by their Celtic
brethren, and with energy, determination, and a mo-
derate amount of capital, we venture to say that
active men can now do better in Ireland than in any
part of Great Britain, or even in another hemi-
sphere, far removed from all their early friends and
associations.

TRE METROPOLITAN ROADS.—The following is SII
abstract of a document just laid before the Marylebone
vestry, by Mr. Scace, the surveyor, as to the cost of making
and keeping in repair some of the moat important roads in
the parish for the last twelve years :—The New-road, mea-
suring 26,400 yards, cost, for twelve years, 20,44.31. ; average
per year, 1,7031. 13s. Edgware-road, for the same period,
14,300 yards, 14,3181.: per year, 1,1931. Portland-road,
4,080 yards, 2,538/. 7s. 7d. ; or, per annum, 2114 10s. 7d.
Great Portland-street, 4,690 yards, 2,5451. 2s. sd. ; average
per year, 212/. ls. 10d. Baker-street and York-place, 8,400
yards, 3,0141. ss. ; per year, '251/. 3s. 9d. Orchard-street,
1,240 yards, 673/. 4s. 7d. ; average per year, 561.25.

Mr. Birch has resigned the situation of preceptor
to the Prince of Wales. He is to be succeeded in his office
by Mr. Gibbs, barrister-at-law, and Fellow of Trinity Col-
lege, Cambridge.—herald.

THE Hop DUTY,—Measures are being adopted in
Sussex to renew the agitation for a repeal of the hop duty ;
and at a meeting just held at Hastings it was resol' ed :
" That the small crop of hops in.the present season in Sus-
sex and the Weald of Kent render it necessary to apply to
the Government fur a postponement of the nest instalment
of the duty."