The Sun.
London, England, 1833-06-13 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

.7-
The Tory faction have .been crying out for some time
past that the constitutioi, was in danger, from the ad-
vances made by what they called " democracy," but
which. in fact, was nothing more than the endeavours of a
liberal Government, and a freely chosen House of Com-
mons, to enact laws eoralucive to the more equal and
more perfect protection of all classes of the King's subjects
from the abuse of power. But we ourselves have at
length come to apprehend that the constitution is in
danger, that the British monarchy is in danger, by
violent means, and that the blow is about to he struck by
the noisiest, though undoubtedly not the wisest, advo-
cates of whatever is most monarchical in the frame of that
constitution. In fact, we have strong reason to be'ieve
that the Tory Peerage, aided by the Bishops, hive
determined on another and an immediate attempt
to overthrow the Grey Ministry, by defeating the
Irish Church Reform Bill ; nor do we see how they ein
fail to succeed, as it is presumed that their majority
in the Upper House will amount to nearly 50. If such
a party choose to stick together, and reckless of conse-
quences, to carry a great immediate point, there is no
question that they may, and indeed must, if they think
tit, succeed in the accomplishment of that object. They
may vote what they please within their own walls, and,
having the m.jority always ready for action, they may ob-
struct and frustrate any and every measure brought be-
fore them, so as indeed to impede the whole march of
government and legislation: this there is nothing to
prevent, but such a creation of liberal Peers as we
conjecture will not take place under a Ministry so
little distinguished by political boldness as the present.
We therefore are bound to express our fears that the
Tories, if they persist,—and their perseverance is too
probable,—may force out the existing Administration
before another fortnight. What comes next? A total
change of policy, the dissolution of some foreign alli-
ances, and the formation of others ; the abandonment
of some of the most important measures of home policy,
and the substitution of others; the whole of our political
system will undergo a fundamental change,—a change to-
wards Toryism ! But will the nation bear such a course,
—the nation which now exclaims against the Whigs for
incomplete and halting Whieism ? If so, it is a stupid
beast of a nation. But the thing is impossible : the
Tories put it about in all directions that they must make
their stand now--tLe people have also made their stand ;
let the Tory Peers (and we say it in the spirit of sincere
admonition) beware,—the force opposed to them is too
strong for their feeble arm,—the stake to be played for
involves not merely the stability of the peerage, but of the
British monarchy; that monarchy may survive the con-
flict which must ensue, but it will be a Tort monarchy
no loner. We shall return to this subject as occasion
requires, and that we predict will be speedily.— Titers.
We agree with those who think that the additiop of
twenty millions to the public burdens at this tittle is a
great sum. We agree with those who think that it will
be thought more of hereafter than at present, while the
enthusiasm—and Heaven knows ! it has been a slow-paced
enthusiasm--continues at its height, and is engaged in the
inspiring work of breaking the chains of the neero. A
little while and the community will have settled down
into a more calm and calculating mood, when the burden
of twenty millions additional will assume its natural im-
portance in the estimation of a people already overwhelmed
with debt. We are not insensible to the importance of
sooneili iting the planters to the Ministerial plan, nor un-
willing that it should be accomplished by the persu isive
instrementality of the purse, more especially as we have
always advocated the principle of fair compensation ; hut
ay'oile we admit the principle of compensation, an i we
thir: it has been carried to its full extent in the pri sent
arrangement, we in iintain that itshoull have gone hand in
hand with the principle of mutual concession. When Mis is-
ters yielded to the importunity of the planters to the r x tent
not only of changing a loan into a gift, but of making the
amount the Oft still greater than that of the proposed
loan, they ought in justice to the great cause which they
were advancing, and to the people at whose expense they
were advancing it, to have made a better bargain for the
lave. A further limitation of the period of apprentice-
ship, for instance, might have been required, and could
aearcely have been objected to as the consideration for so
great a departure from the original plan proposed by Mr.
Stanley. It is not yet too late to accomplish something
of this kind. The propriety of obtaining some advantage
en the side of the abolitionists as an equivalent for that
which the planters are to receive, is obvious as a matter
of justice. In fact, it would not only have the eff ct of
liberalising and improving the plan itself, and of interest-
ing the extreme abolitionists, as they are called, more
warmly in its favour, but would render the mass of the
people more contented under the increased pressure wf.ich
must bear upon theM from the addition of twenty mil-
lions to the debt. —Aloe:sing herald. •

We have copied from a Conservative Contemporary an
account of the dinner at Merchant Tailors' Hall, on Tues-
day last, on the occasion of the annual election of scholars
from Merchant Tailors' School to St. John's College,
Oxford. For the last forty years, the Tories have never
failed to avail themselves of the Merchant Tailors' dinners,
as a means of influencing public opinion; and at this
time the Duke of Wellington, Lord Eldon, and Sir Il!,hert
Peel certainly seem determined to make the most of the
occasion. The Tories have always felt their influence to
be essentially dependent on the -preservation of all rotten
corporations and other strong holds of corruption ; and
they have net disguis-d their hostility to the late inquiry
set on foot by the Hoirse:of Commons with a view to the
purificstion of corporations. Hence the pathetic allusion
of the Duke of Wellington, in his speech, to the common
&tiger. "He should never (be said) forget the grati-
tude which he owed to the Company for the manner in
which they had received him on his return to this country.
--(Cheers.) He had, since that period, always attended
their meetings with satisfaction ; and that satisfaction was
increased, for his attachment to their institution was in-
creased, when, from the circumstances of the present
times, he could not conceal from himself that those valua-
ble institutions were exposed to dancer. The Master had
truly stated, that the most valuable institutions for the
advancement of religion, moral., and education, had not
been the creation of modern times. They had de-ived,
from their wise and liberal ancestors, those institutions
which it bad been th it business, this day, to inspect and
take Bare of. These institutions had been beneficial to the
country; and he' fervently hoped that the dangers which
now menaced them would be averted." Every one knows
that the various institutions alluded to by the Noble Duke
have been perverted to purposes very different from the in-
tentions of our wise and liberal ancestors; and that the out-
cry of the Noble Duke is precisely because the funds !,f the
institutions are in danger of being confined to the purposes
which the founders had in contemplation. We all know
what benefit has already resulted from the inquiry insti•
toted into the abuses of charities. The first families in
the country have not scrupled to misapply in a most
scandalous manner the fonds left for purposes of education.
If the Merchant Tailors' corporation can prove that no mis-
application of their funds has taken place, they have no-
thing to fear. The Duke of Wellington confined himself
within something like the bounds of moderation ; but
Lord Eldon outheroded Herod on this occasion. "He
knew," he said, " the nature of the country so well, that
be felt there was nothing to fear from the armies and
fleets of the whole world, if they were all arrayed against
her ; but her armies and fleets could not protect her from
the terrible principles which tended to subvert all her
institutions. He recollected that forty years ago an at-
tempt was made to introduce these detestable principles
into this country.—principles, the object of which was
to level all the distinctions of property, and wkeh led
plainly to this result, that the existence of a sinee man
of property should no longer be permitted." The Noble
and Learned Lord having, as he thoughts succeerhd in
frightening persons of property, made his next attempt
on Majesty. " The king of England of that day seas,"
he said, "really popular. But the fashion of the present
day was." he said, "to raise the king to a spurious kind
of popularity, and then (but this would always be unpo-
pular with British subjects) to sink their Xing to the
last degree of unpopularity. He would upon eli occa-
sions say what he thought in reference to this soi4ect,
He would always be the determined enemy of prieeip'es
tending to Republicanism, and to the overthrow of a
monarchy which had been found by experience conducive
to the libetty of the subject, and of a eloarefi ;yhich
taught the purest system of Christianity. We must take
these, we suppose, as indications of preparation for an other
struggle. There, is nothing here like resignation. In-
deed the Tories do not hesitate to give out that they
are determined to give battle again and again, in the
House of Peers, on all the questions which affect the
sources of their power. They boast of what they intend
to do on the Irish Church Bill, which they say ti ey will
throw out by a large majority. The Reformers a-I.y de-
pend upon it that there was more in the late divkien in
the House of Lords than they are aware of ; and that
though the power of the Tories is substantially departed
from them, by means of their majority in the Hose of
Peers they have the mean, of throwing the count!), into
confusion when they please. Between the demands of the
nation on the ore hand, and the well known determina-
tion not to create additional Peers on the other, M rasters
are obviously in a position of no ordinal), difficulty.
Coming events will serve to clear tip the in)s,,- ty in
which some pf the past are sbrouded.—Morn. Chrog. ;

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, JUNE 12.

LIBEL ON THE EARL of GLENG:ILL.-THE KING V. LAW.