The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-20 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The Conservative Journals are very unreasonable in
objecting to us, that we do not make sufficient account
of the numbers of the Protestants of the Sister King-
dom, and at the same time abusing Ministers for issu-
ing a Commission to ascertain what the number of
Protestants actually is. " The political theory of the
revolutionists, as respects Ireland (says the Standard),
has for many years assumed, that there are no Protes-
tants in the Sister Kingdom,—or at least that the
Protestants are so few in number, so mean in rank,
and so backward in intelligence, as to be properly re-
jected from all calculation. Now, the bare fact of
such an assemblage as that which collected on the
14th, with the report of the arguments delivered upon
the occasion, at a bloW destroys the whole theory of
the insignificance and ignorance of the Irish Protes-
tants, which has served as the basis of some ten or
fifteen years' Pro-papist legislation." Our contem-
porary is treating this question in a very Ish
manner indeed, when he infers the importance and in-
telligence of the Protestants of the Sister Kingdom
from a meeting at which most of the speakers raved
"rather than argued, and uttered a quantity of sedition
and treason, that the Government could only overlook
on the principle on which the frantic and brutal ex-
hortations of The Poor Man's Guardian are over-
looked. We have not the smallest doubt that the
speakers at the Protestant effusion would be delighted
with bloodshed and carnage. But, notwithstanding
the solemn assurance of our contemporary of the
Dublin Evening Post, that something like resistance
to the Government is contemplated by them, we should
hold the language of the speakers to indicate rather
the feeling of their desperate condition, than of
confidence in their ability to work mischief.—
We do not the less detest the sentiments of
the Reverend Marcus Beresford, that we have
no faith in his power to give effect to his threats.
But we never said that the Protestants of Ire-
land were an insignificant portion of the popula-
tion of the empire. There is a material difference be-
tween making the creed of a fraction of the population,
however respectable, the religion of the State, and
establishing clergy to inculcate that creed when there
are no flocks who believe in it, and considering that
fraction of the population as not entitled to all due re-
spect. The Catholics are unquestionably the great
majority of the people of Ireland : they constitute
nearly the whole population of three provinces ; and
even in Ulster they are a moiety. But, few or
many, the. numbers of the Protestants will be
ascertained by tl2e Royal Commission. God for-
bid, however, that we should for a moment iden-
tify the Protestants of Ireland with this soi disant
Protestant Meeting. The speakers at this meeting
were strangers to the principles of Protestantism ; and
the great majority of Irish Protestants must have held
their sentiments in utter abhorrence. In Protestant
Ulster, as it is called, such sentiments could only be
palatable.to the mob ; and indeed the speakers took
care, by constantly affecting a particular regard for
their poor Protestant brethren, to show that they
counted principally on the mob. Our contemporary
of the Standard supposes that Protestantism and
Episcopacy are synonimous, and ...that every Irish Pro-
testant must necessarily be ready to fight for the Arch-
bishop of Annagh and his pious relative, the Rev.
Marcus Beresford. , The most learned and ingenious
of the Reformers, Melancthon, in his great standard
work Loci Communes, tells us expressly that the
Church is not essentially connected with titles in suc-
cession from the Apostles :—" Ex hac regula judicari
potest ecclesiam non alligatam esse ad certos titulos,
aut successionem ordinariam. Hies sententia vera est,
sed politicis viris ingrata est ; ideo intuentes imperia et
politias humanas quadam imitatione transformant cede-
siam in regnum.', It was the splendour and wealth
of the Church which the speakers at the Dublin Meet-
ing had alone in their contemplation. The first Re-
formists would have considered them as worse Papists
than the men they were branding as such.—Morning
chronicle.

The Malthusian gentlewoman of the Globe, who has
been employed during the greater part of the late ses-
sion in giving her obstetric assistance to deliver mother
Althorp of the " boon to the female population," and
whose assistance went nearer to strangle the little morn-
ster than the malice prepense of any of its enemies—
this Malthusian midwife to all the disgusting produc-
tions of the " preventive-check school" made the other
day a ridiculous and pitiable exhibition of the impotent
rage with which she is animated against us for our un-
ceremonious mode of handling the principles of the pet-
ticoat philosopher, Miss Martineau, and her unmanly
accomplices in the dissemination of the doctrines of the
Westminster propaanda, for the full developement of
which we must wait until the Malthusian Poor Law
Bill shall have worked its: degrading effects upon the minds
of Englishmen—if, indeed, it be allowed to continue in
existence long enough for that purpose, which we much
doubt. We passed over that ludicrous exhibition of
the wrath of the beldame with silent contempt, as
we have many others ; but, emboldened by theimpu-
nity, she persists in flinging dirt at us ; nay, she
plays gambols in her spitefulness with that heavy
sort of vivacity which makes a joke a very se-
rious thing. To improve her manners, which are
becoming very unseemly and licentious since her dear
Althorp got safely through the painful parturition of
his Bill, we must give her a taste of the rod of a
schoolmaster who teaches the very opposite of a priori
logic, though some persons may think we had better
leave her to the tender mercies of her own sex, at
whose hands she richly deserves to receive that sort of
castigation which it may appear ungallant and even in-
delicate for us to administer. For the purpose of
flagellating her 'properly, we must mount her on • the
back of the new police system, of the charms of which
she is so desperately enamoured, that we are sure we
could not choose any flogging-horse for her that was
more to her taste. Well, there she is mounted, and
kicking more vigorously than she ever wrote, and not
at all approving in her own person of that severity of
punishment which she prescribes as a cure for the re-
bellious grumblings of the half-starved agricultural la-
bourers and oppressed operatives of England. This old
lady, who was once the "Lady Blarney" to the Wel-
lington Administration, until she was smitten with the
official wisdom of Lords Althorp, Palmerston, and Co.,
and is allowed the sweepings of the intelligence of
Downing-street as her perquisite, though her hanker-
ings after her old friends, the Tories, are still visible in
the midst of her praises of the superlative virtues and
profound sagacity of the Althorpian dynasty—this old
lady, we say, attempts to be exceeding smart upon us
for throwing a little light on the Parliamentary pro-
cess which has been had recourse to byiour Whig
rulers to purify the new police in the eyes of the pub-
lic, and reconcile the people of England to the prac-
tical excellences of that most unconstitutional and dan-
gerous force, which, whatever its political patrons may
say of it, is a bad English transcript of a Bourbon in-
vention, and wholly incompatible with the genius of a
free Constitution. To the Duke of Wellington and
Sir Robert Peel, in the hey-dey of their Tory ascen-
dancy, we owe the importation of that French gendar-
merie which the ancient female of the Globe, with seem-
ing satisfaction, told the public, the day or two before
the great assemblage of the workmen of London to
petition for the remission of the vindictive sentences on
the Dorchester Unionists, were to be armed with pis-
tols and cutlasses. But this display, upon considera-
tion, the Globe's patrons thought it better to avoid; and
then we were informed that this ostentatious announce-
ment was an inadvertent paragraph—Credat Judaus !
The Malthusian lady now says---." The procession of
the Trades Unions was among one of the many instances
in which the judicious distribution of that force, on
ertainpoints, was a measure, to say the least, as effec-
tive in guarding against disturbance, and far less offer.-
sive to popular feeling, than would have been any de-
monstration of military force, which was judiciously
kept in reserve. The events of that day dissolved at
once, and for ever, the prestige of the Grand National
Consolidated Trades Union, &c. Now, the simple
fact is, that Ministers, having reaped a little wisdom
from the results of their own unspeakable folly, in pro-
voking, by the wanton and reckless employment of
their police force, the disastrous events of the Cal-
thorpe-street affair, abstained from such wanton inter-
ference with the Trades Unions going in procession to
Ftition the Zing, E.:rough i,3 Secretary fizz e :Emma

Department. We can say, from our own observation,
that a more peaceable body of men never passed
through the streets of the metropolis ; but if the police
force had been let loose upon them, and if the head-
splitting truncheons had been used in promiscuous
onslaught—as they were used in knocking -down men,
women, and children in Calthorpe-street—the events of
the day would have been far more deplorable ; and the
streets of London might before the sun went down re-
semble the streets of Paris or Lyons, under the pater-
nal sway of the liberal Louis Philip—the two great
cities of a country where the original gensdarnterie, of
which our own is yet the imperfect copy, flourishes in
all its perfection. It is, at least, highly probable that
there would have been more verdicts of Coroners'
Juries for the Court of King's Bench to quash,
and other testimonies equally satisfactory to the
abilities and humanity of Lord Melbourne. Per-
haps the Malthusian gentlewoman can inform us
whether they were of the rabble who not long ago in
the House of Commons applied to the conduct of
some of the police force, whose insolence Members of
Parliament had experienced, the epithets " brutal and
disgusting ;"—but we war not with the individuals,
but with the system. We say that we pay too dear a
price for the protection of our silver spoons and pocket
handkerchiefs, which, if we are to judge from the state
of crime in the metropolis, are badly protected after all.
We say that those who are appointed to protect the
property of the citizens of a free country from depre-
dation should be responsible to the citizens themselves.
The old system—like the House of Commons—
wanted reform, but that was not " reform" which sub-
verted the English principle of watch and ward, and
substituted for a constitutional constabulary force
these Prwtorian bands—this spurious civil force, with
military organization---copied from the Bourbon ori-
ginal—and dependent upon the Minister of the Crown,
who, if he be so minded, can always employ this body,
as it is chiefly employed in France and in other parts of
the Continent, as a political machine, and for the vilest
purposes of oppression and espionage. We observe-
that the Duke of Wellington has recommended the
extension of this unconstitutional force all over the
country—a recommendation to which Lord Melbourne
promised the most serious attention. The Malthusian
lady will not surely consider this recommendation a
proof that " from Marlborough's lips the streams of
dotage flow." We rather think the Duke shows a
great deal of sagacity in this matter. He expects to
come into office again, and he wishes previously to
that to have " the House swept and garnished" by the
Whigs. He knew that in supporting the Malthusian
Poor Law Bill he was increasing vastly the patro-
nage, and of course the influence, of the Ministers of
the Crown. He knows that by extending the Prwto-
rian bands of the new police all over the country, he
will create a force which he may render available for
the worst Tory domination, when the time is ripe for
cutting the connection of the Whigs with the throne.
Therefore, we say, let the country look to it.—Morning
Herald.

Dr. Johnson used-to say, when he wanted to ex-
press the effect of an argument, that he always knew
the force of a blow by the violence of its rebound. If
that be the case, a harder hit has seldom been made
than the defeat of the Irish Tithe Bill ; for the Mi-
nisterial Papers, not being content with one ebullition
of rage and disappointment, repeat their attacks from
day to day with increased animosity and virulence.
People in the wrong are sure to be angry. So great
indeed is their annoyance that they actually begin to
tell us, in a demi-official manner, throwing out a hint
as a sort of feeler to the country, that they still have
the desire to maintain the Church (how very kind)
although their hope of doing so may now be impaired
(how very foolish). Why, if their desires be sincere,
they may easily recover the hope, by standing firm
and upholding the truth. Let them not concede two-
fifths of its property, merely because its greatest
enemy (who, if he regarded his oath, has neither voice
nor vote upon these matters) has dared to propose the
robbery. There is one way, and one alone; by which
the Government can settle this question, can avoid
a collision between the two Houses, and give satis-
faction to every one (except O'Connell and his tail),
and that is by re-proposing the measure which they
themselves introduced, converting tithe into land-tax,
with such facilities to the landlord for redemption that
the whole might be redeemed in a few years. This
measure has already received the sanction of the Com-
mons by a majority of five to one. And it has also
met with the approbation of the Lords. Consequently
.it must pass—if once proposed. But there are two
reasons against the Ministers reviving it, although it is
their own mature, wise, and deliberate plan. First,
because it would please the Opposition ; secondly,
because it would displease O'Connell. To us they
now seem like Launcelot Gobbo in the Play ; with a
little remainder of conscience urging them on one side
to do what is right, and with the " big beggarman"
on the other urging them headlong into the contrary
path. " Budge I" says the fiend. " Budge not,"
says conscience. " Conscience," say they, " you
counsel well." " Fiend," say they, " you counsel well."
Wearied at last by these importunities, they exclaim
with the wretched Launcelot, " The fiend gives the
more friendly counsel. I will run, fiend. My heels
are at your commandment—l will run." So off they
scamper to O'Connell, and leave their conscience in
the hands of Lord Grey. For the amusement and
instruction of our readers, we are tempted to add a
fable, altered but little from the original, and won-
derfully applicable to the circumstances of the time.
A country fellow went one day into the wood and
looked about him with some concern ; upon which the
trees, with a natural curiosity, asked him what he
wanted ? He replied that he only wanted a piece of
wood to make a. handle to his hatchet. Since that was
all it was voted by the foolish brambles and the use-
less dogwood that he should have a piece of good,
sound, tough ash. But no sooner had he received and
fitted it for his purpose, than he began to lay about
him most unmercifully, and to hack and hew with-
out distinction, felling the noblest trees in all the
forest. Then the oak is said to have spoken thus
to the elm, " Brother, how could we be so absurd as
to allow the bramble and dogwood to dictate for
us ? Now we shall suffer for our folly." This beau-
tiful fable conveys a timely moral. Mr. O'Connell is
the countryman ; the brambles and dogwood are his
Majesty's Ministers, who give him the weapons he
asks for ; and the forest which he intends to level with

the ground represents the Church of Ireland. The lesson
we learn from it is this—never to put any confidence in
the advice of pretended friends, for they will furnish
our enemies with the means of destroying us. To
forgive an enemy is gracious, to trust him is folly ;
and he whoballows him to be armed and strengthened
will have to repent of his false benevoleuce. In addi-
tion to which, he will increase his distress by the mi-
serable reflection that he brought his misfortune on
himself by his own credulity. Therefore let the oak
and elm, i. e. the staunch supporters of the Church,
beware that they do not submit their interests ro un-
worthy counsellors, or else the time will come when
they shall say to each other, " Brother, how could we
be so absurd as to allow the bramble and dogwood to
dictate for us ? Now we shall suffer for our folly."—
Morning Post.

We beg leave to call the attention of our readers to
a series of reports (inserted in this day's paper) of a
Committee appointed by the guardians of the poor of
the parish of St. James's, Clerkenwell, to inquire into
abuses in the management of the poors' funds of that
parish. It exhibits a scene of gross and extensive
peculation on the part of one of the parish function-
aries, which has been permitted to be carried on for a
series of years, and to the amount of above ten thou-
sand pounds, through the negligence and incapacity of
the overseers of the poor. At a time when the Poor
Law Amendment Bill is so industriously attempted to
be made the subject of popular odium, the expose
made by these reports is a very seasonable illustration
of its utility, or rather its necessity. A great topic
made use of by the writers in Conservative Journals
and the orators at parish meetings has been the un-
English character of the Bill, in introducing what
they call a system of centralizat ion—transferring the
management of the poor from the wholesome control
of the local authorities to. Government commissioners
and assistant commissioners. A pretty picture of these
local authorities is exhibited by the reports before us.
turns out that " robbery has been eoia:mitted oa

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MARLBORO UGH-STREET.

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1834.

most of the books used by the overseers or the board,
instruct them on first coming into office, are the more
viz., the money order book, the funeral book,
and the board and relief book;" and the com-
mittee account for the facility given to these
frauds by " the constant change of those offi-
cers who, varying every month, and in many in-
stances not having the assistance of past overseers to
easily imposed. upon." If such is the case in a great
metropolitan parish, where those functionaries are of
course respectable and conversant with business, what
must be the case in hundreds of parishes throughout
the country, where, to the facilities for fraud af-
forded by the constant change of office, are to be
added those arising from the persons appointed to
those offices being ignorant and illiterate, and, from
the lowness of their station, liable to every species of
corrupt influence ? Were investigations, similar to
that made by the parishioners of Clerkenwell, gene-
rally entered into, numbers of similar discoveries would
certainly be made ; but such inquiries are not entered
into ; or, if begun, are not persevered in ; a fact of
which we have a remarkable instance in the reports to
which we refer, where it is stated that, owing to a sus-
picion of there being something wrong, a committee
was formed to inquire into the matter ; but that they,
" after meeting some few times on the subject, left it
as they found it, without making any discovery what-
ever." The effect of the Poor Law Amendment Act
will be to render such practices no longer possible,and,
by establishing a system of superintendence, to secure
the proper application of the whole of the funds raised
for the support of the poor.—Morning Chron isle.

FRAUDS IN THE HAY SALES.—Joseph Kidney, a hay
salesman, residing at Apperton, yesterday appeared volun-
tarily to answer a complaint made against him by Mr. G.
W. Watkins, a medical gentleman, residing in Frederick-
terrace, Vauxhall Bridge-road.
Complainant stated that he bought half a load of hay of
the min in the defendant's employ. He had it weighed by
the clerk of the market, and 1.5 trusses were found altoge-
ther deficient 571bs. ; three others, making the full number
of trusses, were 181bs. over weight.
Defendant, in reply, said that he was not aware of any
deficiency. The hay lost by exposure to the sun.
Mr. CHAMBERS said that new hay might lose by the
heat, but even then it ought to exceed the limited weight
when it was tied up, in order that it should reach the
standard when it came into the market. But this was old
hay, and it was impossible that it could have lost to that
extent.

Defendant maintained that hay would lose by exposure
to the sun, and that half a load, from not being kept so
moist, would lose more than a whole load.
Mr. CHAMBERS, in referring to the Act, said that the
penalty was 2s. 6d. on each truss ; but as three of the
trusses were over weight he should only reckon twelve as
defective. He therefore adjudged the defendant to pay to the
penalty of 1/.los.
Complainant said that during the last four years he had
made frequent purchases of hay, and not more than two or
three of them were of the proper weight. He had seen
amazing deficiencies. He knew nothing to the disrepute of
the defendant ;- but this he kiim-v, that the public were plun-
dered hourly in the sales of hay. He had done it for their
benefit.

Theresa Sinclair and Sam. Charles Pearson, who have
been in custody some days, charged on suspicion of being
concerned in the burglary at Sir Edward Paget's, at Sand-
hurst, Kent, were yesterday again brought up and remanded
for a week. Nothing has been discovered from which it can
be proved that these persons were actually concerned in the
offence ; but they are evidently in the recent possession of
funds.