The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-27 00:00:00

T_ur'•4'.s:.l)Al—'

mania of the crisis, and that we Ate nOr3 imagi-
not our readers imagin'd,tiovieV'er;theib toe are bitten with the
nation. 'lf they will t•a4 the Times of yesfefday iVey
see the sober and sad avowal put' forth by our contempoearY
himself, that he now condemns Lord John for incapacity,
because he is out of office, whtn, in the same paragraph he
declares he would have lauded had he continued in power.
Among other extravaga'ncee of imaginatiotn we have had
hints from Variotis quarters, that by seine means or other,
into some combination or other of nascent administrations,
ce cher Aberdeen might possibly find his way. The Noble
Earl has indeed fluttered, like a.gnorne in ,a. pantomime,
over every,, group of statesmen, of everythade of politics,
who have met in consultation 'of State 'affairs 'within the
last few days. Who bade him come' or how 'he " gat"
e on Lord
there,'. nobody seems to know. But. ,the notion that
the' Government of England, or. any • department of it,
should be intrusted to his hands, neither the Nrible:Earl him-
self, nor any other man of-sober judgmet*, has anticipated.
Still, it does seem strange, and it affordslome colour to the
dealers in speculations, to whom we -have alluded, that whe-
ther Lord John Russell, or Sir James Graham,
arrahfingm, or
Stanley, or Mr. Gladstone, is the principal
political ucene, he (the said principal figure) is sure to glide
towards a shadowy appearance in some corner or pother,
which, when carefully examined, turns eat to be no other
than "ce cher Aberdeen." There is something in this mysteri-
ous and seemingly purposeless übiquity, calculated to excite
general wonder it' not anxiety, and amongst the'revelations of
Friday next wecannot help expecting, that the least marvel-
lous will not be that which shall let us into the secret of a
phenomenon at present so unaccountable.. Whether the un-
bidden apparition in question forwards nefrustrates the pur-
poses of successive formers of Cabiuets, it is difficult to tell.
But some wise people, who guess in Abe latter direction,
begin to think, that the genius of Aberdeen is really benefi-
cent, and that his influence in forbiddinif the existence of a
Ministry at all is useful to th , public. The country goes on
very well they say without a Ministry. The railway runs
its course—and so does the tax-gatherere-.and the pbliceman
—and all the affairs of life--even when there is no Ministry
to present the consummation of Stupidity, and no opposition
to present the 'quintessence of perfection. We hope. Lord
Aberdeen will look to this in time. •
ADVERTISER.—" Wanted a hero—an uncommon want,"
is the commencement of one of Lord Byron's poems.. The,
commodity most wanted just now is not a liero, but a Prime
Minister. The office has gone a-begging. No One will ac-
cept it, or if some sanguine, adventurous
.person, like Lord
Stanley, is found to accept the situation, it is only to resign
it the next hour, or at the farthest the next day. only
John
Russell, Lord Aberdeen, Sir James Graliara, severally Shrink
from the acceptance of the vacant Pretiership. It would
really seem as it the Queen would, ere long, be reduCid to the
humiliating necessity of advertising in-'the public 'journals
for a Prime Minister —just as a nobleman advertises for a
butler or a groom. The extreme difficulty of getting any
man of position in the political world to accept the
Premiership is one of the most significant signs of the
times. It is not only that the difficulty of constructing a
lasting Cabinet is great, if not insuperable—the diffi-
culty of getting any man of mark even to under-
take the task, is of the most formidable kind. This
betokens a very perplexing and very unpromising state of
things. It shows the perils by which we are surrounded.
It gives us a clearer view of the complications of parties,
and of the confusion which exists in the high places of
political society, than almost, anything that could be ima-
gined. But still, notwithstanding all,the difficulties of what
the French would call " the situation," we would have no
uneasy apprehensions as to the ultimate result, were the
people only true to themselves and to their principles. To
our minds, by far the worst feature of the present position of
parties and of metters, is the comparative indifference which
the people apparently feel in the issue •of the existing con-
fusion. We use the word apparent, because the indifference
is mote in appearance than reality. But whether it be actual
or not, the result is substantially the same. An apparent in-
difference may be, at the present juncture, quite as disastrous
to the popular cause, as an indifference which is real. Men
judge of things by appearances. If the people at this moment-'
ous crisis, demean themselves in such a way, as to convey
the idea that they feel no particular interest in the issue of
the present posture of affairs the necessary conclusion on
the part of statesmen and politicians will be, that they are
indifferent as to the ultimate results of the existing crisis.
It is all the more deeply to be deplorefl, that the country is
silent and inactive at such a juncture as the present, be-
cause there never was a period within the memory of man,
.when the voice of the people could have been raised with
so pose erful an effect, as it could be at this moment: The'
destinies of the country are entirely in its own hands. Lord
Stanley, or Lord anybody else, may form a Ministry to-day,
but if the people please they can, by a single breath, destroy
that Ministry to-morrow, The peseier of public opinion
never was so great as it ie'at this hour. , It is omnipotent.
Its irresistible might is derived front the complication of
political interests, and the confusion of lsarties, to which we
have alluded. •If we could only aroase the country to
sense of its duty in this great political,eanergency, we should
care but comparatively little who is to be the head
of the new Ministry, or who are to be its members. Be that
,Moister whom he may, be the Cabinet What it will, he and•
it would fail if not based' on liberal principles. Their only
chance of getting on even for one brief week, would.be by
proposing a course of policy in accordance with popular
opinion. The people can, it they only awaken out
he
of
men may be in office, to act in accordance with popular
pwelithwhatt
whfhicshieeptileanedmeraaceqnuci;
retqhuemiresde,lvescobi
principles, and keep soreast with POpular feeling. The'
inactivity of the country is, we must- own, altogether unin-
telligible to us. A concurrence of curious circumstances-
such as do not happen once in a century—has brought about
a political crisis, in which all the great parties in the State
seem equally helpless. They have the greatest difficulty in
forming even the • semblance of a Government. All who .

make the attempt to construct a new Cabinet, or who even
entertain the idea, feel that without accoinmodating themselves
to the views and wishes ff the people theriCould not be the most
slender chance of success. And yet iti'this state of affairs—
a state of affairs so singularly favourable to the popular
cause - the country seetas: in a profound sleep. It is per-
mitting the most favourable opportunity which ever pre-
sented itself for inswing the permanent triumph of the
popular cause— to pas away unimproyed. The people were
roused to sensibility aid action, a fortnight ago, when Sir
Charles Wood attempted to play off his financial jugglery at
their expense. They `elt, and spoke, and acted, when he
sought to impose upon them, by legellemain expedients, in
connexion with the winiow and houseOuties. Nor did they
look on in silence and with folded hands, when the Right
Hon. Gentleman proclamed his intention of renewing the
income-tax with all its enormities and iniquities, foi another
period of three years. Somuch the motennaccountable is the
apathy of the nation; at atinae so pregnant with momentous
results to the country. The silence and seeming insensibility
of the people are to us wholly incoiriprehensible... But it is
not yet too late to Meeks out of sleep. It is not yet past
time to arouse tliemselvci from their apparent -lethargy.
Let them even now but open their•-eyes, and work them-
selves up to vigorous action, and their own triumph, with
the triumph of popular principles, wlityet be achieved.. The
course which the country ought, in Ole present emergency,
to adopt, is clear. Public'meetingi should immediately be
held in all parte of the county, to pais resolutions, affirming
in the most explicit and energetic lisukuage whith.it is rios-
sible to employ, that no Govirnmentowill be entitled to, and
cannot possess, the confident of the nation, which is
not based on the three great 'principles of a rigid
economy in the public exlendittire an extension 'of
the franchise, and an abiidgek- duration of Parlia-
ments. We made this suggestion on Monday :
we repeat it now. The course-which. it indicates, is the only
one which will meet the exigeicieit ecthe case. All that! is
wanting, we are convinced, in order to ensure its universal'
adoption, is, that a beginning should be' made. To' the me-
tropolis we naturally look for the initiative. The country
will expect London to make a eownencement. The move-
ment ought to have been inaugurated before now. The City.
should by this time have set the agitation agoing. Maryle-
bone would have followed. So arupld all the other metro-
politan boroughs. And all the populous towns in the, pro-
vinces would have forthwith inntaied the example set ,by
London. It is not too late now. ;. Let the City move in the
matter, without another day's delay; Shall we appeal to it
in vain ? Then we tarn to MarYlibone —the greatest bo-
rough in the world. To the men ofMnrilebone, the cause of
civil and ,religious liberty has, tet,innumerable occasions,
been under the,, deepest obligation'. It will not desert us
now. We know that our appeal toil will meet with a prompt
and hearty 'response.

EVENING,

" Received from 65 now subscribers
Ditto 427 old ditto ...

PROVIDENT CLERKS' ASSO-
CIATION.

1 #.

The annual meeting of the benevolent department
of the Provident Clerks' Association was held last
evening, at the London Tavern ; John Abel Smith;
Esq., M.P., in the chair.
Among those present we observed, besides the
Chairman, Baron, L. de " Rothschild, " M.P. ; Messrs.
R. 11. Jones, J. W. Welch, W. J. Jordan, S. Jepps,
J. Dankaerts, W. S. Saw►ell, J. Lintott, A. Dawson,
Wm. Maitland, Richard Price, John Clarke, Samuel
Notley, H. B. Reynolds, Edward Coleman, A.
Smee, &c. &c.
The SECRETARY (Mr. Byrne) then read the report,
Of which the following is an abstract :

X s. d.

.. 66 3 0
463 1 0

• t • 529 4 0
Life subscribers, three t..' ' +•• 31 10 0

560 14 0
Donations ... .., 132 6 6

F En It ET A R .271

.....--

'1851.'

-••- •
ness, he incurred liabilities which' the ainotint of his
policy and other effects was barely sufficient to pay.
She was obliged to dispose of the whole of her furni-
ture- ,We allowed her Bs. a week for .26 weeks.—
(Hear, hear.) The next is that of a husband
who died, leaving his wife with two young children,
one three years and the other nine months old, after
a long illness of eight months. A gratuity of Si.
Was given to!this deserving applicant.—(Rear, hear.)
Another case is tha,t of a member who had the
i•mis-
fortune to, be out of employment,r without any means
of subsistence, and who came to us to have his name
entered in the situation book ; we gave him a gra-
tuity of 51. To another member, who was reluc-
tantly compelled to allow his policy to lapse, owing
to great distress, we awarded a similar sum of Si.
For the assistance thus given we received the most
grateful acknowledgments from all the parties. I
`could go on relating a variety of cases in all of which
relief was 'granted, but I will content myself with
only mentioning; one more, because it shows a degree of
most excellent feeling which cannot be too much op-
plaude,cl. A member who received Si. under such
circumstances as those I have already stated happily
obtained a situation, and afterwards returned the 5.1.
with many thanks to the society.—(Cheers.) I have
alluded to all these cases in order to show how im-
portant and useful that assistance is which is given at
the peculiar time when it is most needed, because it
saves many a one from ruin ; and I could show by
letters we have received from there how grateful they
are, and how useful the timely assistance of the
society has been.— (Hear.) I will not Cietain the
meeting longer. Those points I thought it essential
to notice, because they are points which the meeting
should understand, and what I have said gives an op-
portunity to members to make any observationa upon
them which may occur to their minds. In conclu-
sion, I shall be happy to answer any questions, or to
entertain any recommendations which may come from
individual members in the meeting.—(Cheers.)
In answer to a Member,

The CHAIRMAN said the question with reference
to the proposed alteration of the rules, as to the'ap-
propriation of a portion of the profits in the assur-
ance department to the benevolent branch of the.in-
stitution, would be maturely and deliberately consi-
dered by the board. He had gone into the subject
at some little trouble, and had consulted the trustees
upon it ; and without expressing any opinion now,
he would press upon the members that no change of
the kind referred to should take place without the
greatest possible care and deliberation.—(Hear.) He
had, therefore, made up his mind to depre-
cate any discussion on the point to-night,
and he would appeal to the gentlemen present
to postpone what they had to say upon :it until the
subj,.ct was properly and regularly brought before
a general meeting, called especially for the purpose.
'The 331.Ezdunt expressed himself perfectly satisfied
with the explanation of the chairman.

Toe report was then adopted.
Mr. WELCH, the deputy chairman of the board,
having been called upon by the chairman, said-1
rise with peculiar satisfaction to propose a resolution
which I am certain will give you as much pleasure
as it has given the board i❑ coming to the con-
clusion that they would be enabled to carry
out that which it directs us to do—viz.,
to grant annuities to two widows of members, and to
one distressed member.—(Cheers.) When we know
the unfortunate circumstances of tbose who become
involved in difficulties and distress, this is always a
pleasing task, and I am satisfied you will feel equally
pleased in cordially agreeing to the resolution.—
(Cheers.) I regret our funds are not in a more pros-
perous state, for it is just possible we may
have a greater number of applicants than we can
grant annuities to. That is one of the distressing
circumstances of this association which we are
anxious to remedy as soon as we possibly can ; and
without making any allusion to the proposed altera-
tions, I hope and trust, by our united exertions and
labours, aided: by the assistance of those who
take such a warm and deep interest in the association
—I mean our excellent chairman and trustees, who
have not only promised, but given us their
most active co-operation I hope and trust
we shall place the funds of the association
in such a position as will enable us to do much
more than we have hitherto done.—(Hear, hear.)
It is, I repeat, most gratifying to come before you on
the present occasion, and make the proposition which
I now hold in my hand, because it will be the means of
alleviating the distress of those who have been placed
in a better position, and who now urgently require
the assistance of this excellent institution.

Hear, bear.) I will not detain you by entering

into any long statement, because Mr. Jones
has already, and at length, alluded to the good
the society does, not only in granting annuities
to distressed clerks and widows of clerks, but also in

enabling clerks who are unfortunately thrown out of
situations to obtain others. But I will just mention
a circumstance which came to my knowledge to-day.
A gentleman who was in want of a situation applied
to me;•and I recommended him to call on our secre-
tary. He happened just at the time tohearof a vacancy
in a mercantile house. Mr. Byrne gave him a letter
of introduction. He did not succeed in obtaining the
situation, but obtained another, and he came to
we a few days ago and made a proposition to
inure his life with the association—(Cheers)—
telling me that his reason for coining to the institu-
tion was, that he felt it had shown some
sympathy to him when he was anxiously looking
out for employment.--(Cheers.) This is one of the
gratifying circumstances, added to many others, con-
nected with our society.—(Cheers.) Mr. Welch con-
cluded by moving the following resolution :
" That on the 28th May next, or such other day as
the board may appoint, of which due notice shall be
given, a special general meeting be held for the purpose
of electing three additional annuitants duly qualified ac-
cording to the rules, viz.,—one clerk, being a member,
to an annuity of 251., ad two widows of members to
annuities of 151. each; and in the event of no qualified
member offering himself, then to elect three widows of
members to annuities of 151. each."
Mr. PnicE felt great pleasure in seconding the re-
solution, and in doing so he wished to call upon the
clerks as a body to support the institution, and he felt
himself perfectly justified in doing so when he looked
at the large amount which was granted in annuities.
If the clerks did not do so he feared the day would
come when they would find that the hands of the
institution Were tied. But he hoped that it never
would be so, and that the institution would be able
to meet all the demands which might be made upon
it, and hoped to see it placed in that high position to
which the exertions of their officers had been so
indefatigably directed.
The resolution was then put from the chair, and
carried unanimously.
Mr. REYNOLDS rose to move the next resolution,
which was—

" That this meeting tenders its warmest thanks to
Thomas Baring, Esq., m.r., Thomson Hankey, jun.,
:Esq., , Ai'.. G. •Prescott, Esq., Baron. L. ,de Rotbacbild,
141.31.,, trustees, of the association, and to John Abel
Smitb,iEstp, M.P., treasurer of the benevolent fund, for
their continued patronage and support."
It gave him much. pleasure to propose this vote of
thankeighere thanks were so greatly 4ltte.—(Hear,
hear.) ' air only regret. was tbat they- oould!not re-
ward: tilek ill 'the manner 'which *Mid ''have- been
most iiitifying. 'to the feelinga of .theie` 'gentlemen,
rbr !sheaving: to them At more prosperous balance-sheet.
'There wisione word in the : resolution.'to ,'wbielf be
eitiiilkl Moile'pertictilatlylo.itivertomd that was 'that
qie ,Mie:ting,thaplied these gentleineii, for their. con-
tinued tpatronage and support. , rioweier..grateful
:they might feel to these gentlemen for their suppert
in thefirst.linstance, : they 'were under still igreater
01,110 db-hit fOr'contintiings it to them so' stedfastlyin
:itifte'of:the IndifferefiCa and aptitht viith *illiclhAtis
institution: been received by tho' clerks as ii V6d3r.
It wati-an leasy matter for -an unpractised spealpir to
'get Up y elit 'after 'year. and • talk.on the same. subject, -
Ind' kafislii ethink new on :each •'ociesioni and • Sle
:1 4iiinisi 111NiliyAl -diSletefore, to fbllovethiteig-
i
anifli4. ;3gt„`i je old ,pligy.niv? .**liO' had. 10.,..Vight
, stock of saermone . which hay sh'inied lraorei,P9EtPAo7
in preaching, than originality ire r varyilaw: and 0 0,
• du:being' iefilonstrated, .with; ran ",17.4 sweredi ,ii O,
t
gentlemen, no new sermons'tintit',."3-inr-liriiitiaiot e
old ones bettei."; - fle',,.tileUglaV"Oovever„
,titlt the
institution had.no ground` for. deapondendy, tiarticu-
hay when be looked at the greit good which o.di.ds.
'The affording. of temporary' relief-, was one of, its
Meat lin ortitht objects, and lib believed that hoenia.
Coultll4 0. iihit valtie the relief Wat--7ifi , 1,4f1.111 :I'2
" ' ' '{ ' ' d .c1e5134F• -He
titaucea.i 1T4.4 salvation rpm inin, an
..
trusted *bat DO one present would. relaextrer.hltlf .mist
andhe Addressed himself more partiive air
guinea
o vo
tt o
w' gi s
who were in a position-to.
,eff to such more'
a year, toile benevOlent fund
_
d t support the institu-
ParticillarlY:that he-appeal
proper persona by whpia it
tionf for they weretr -With regard to poorer men
nught, tot be? Fapp.odthe
would prefer neeing,them be-
tielal nilvtAYsS'N the institution by effecting "ittinall
c6inl, i'euit'er's - subscribing aguinea. It a '
• surance than ,by
;:14,8,remon,tbat he addressed his observations ilarf,
particularlyo to them.--(Hear, hear.), :
Mr. Fenian- seconded . the 'resolution, which was
carried amid-loud cheering.: ~ , , ,
Baron ROTHISCU!LD, in rising to return thanks, said
that hebeid in his hand letters from Mr} Baring and
gr. Hahkey, in which they e*pipsecl.th6r `regret
that sudden calls of business had presented' their
being present on this occasion, more particu-
larly as it'was the first meeting from which either of
them had ever been - absent. Ulider those eircum-
stanceV..it devolved upon him to return thanks for
hitnielf and his colleagues for the resolution which
had just been carried in so cordial a manner. It gyve?
them all great, pleasure, he could assure the meeting, to
meet the supportengf the institution year by year, and
particularly' on the. present ~oriumion,.•ns: they bad
three opportunities of giving away money to persons
who he was sure merited the donation. It would
have given them still greater pleasure if, instead of