The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-04 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1851.

The period is rapidly approaching when her MA-
JESTY in person will prorogue the two Houses of the
Legislature. Whatever remains to be accomplished,
therefore, either in the Lords or Commons is being
hurried through the remaining stages, in order to
leave as little as possible over to the next session for
ulterior settlement. Such is the course habitually
pursued by the Imperial Parliament, and, all things
considered, it is one in many respects highly satis-
factory. It would of course be preferable to
witness on the part of the Legislature a
more judiciously regulated method of con-
ducting the business of the country. It would
be more agreeable to witness, for example, a certain
unity throughout the
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seeing, as we do, the
in useless discussions and reiterated adjournments,
while the close consists principally of precipitate en-
deavours to hurry through all the work permitted to
accumulate in consequence of numberless procrasti-
nations. The contrast presented by the speed of le-
gislation in both Houses of Parliament at the ter-
mination, and the tardiness of legislation at the
commencement, brings to recollection those variations
in the elliptical movement of a planet which puzzled
the earlier astronomers in their calculations. Among
all this apparent confusion, however, as in the me-
chanism of the solar system, there is an invariable
harmony—a harmony both of purpose and of accom-
plishment. Taking a retrospective glance at the la-
bours of the Parliament towards the conclusion of a
session, the journalist, as the mouthpiece of public
opinion, invariably finds reason for regret as well
as fur exultation—regret at what still requires
the interposition of the powers of the State, exulta-
tion at each of the beneficial changes which have been
accomplished. From such backward glances it is
that we are enabled to perceive the probabilities of na-
tional advancement, estimating the chances of future
from the certainties of past improvement. Besides
which, the scrutiny of those proceedings, more par-
ticularly in reference to the House of Commons,
prove beneficial, not only to the public at large, but
especially, and in a very peculiar manner, to the po-
pular representatives themselves. It enables the
more intelligent Members of the Lower House
to calculate from all that has been actually done
what may in addition to this be reasonably accom-
plished in those reforms, to which, maybe, they have
pledged themselves on the hustings to their respective
constituencies. It empowers them to conjecture, with
some degree of accuracy, the probabilities of failure
in matters where, of late, the community have ex-
perienced some severe legislative disappointments.
By such considerations as these the retrospect of the
Parliamentary session becomes fruitful of good, and the
nation finds at each successive prorogation an oppor-
tunity of scanning its prosperity with something like
a reasonable degree of deliberation.
Whatever may be thought of the session which is
now on the very eve of its conclusion, it must be ad-
mitted on all hands that it has been one rather of
struggle than of substantial realization. Several
events have conspired -to render 1851 memorable in
reference to other matters rather than to reforms in
the Imperial Legislature. The Great Industrial Ex-
hibition for one thing has monpolised so large a
portion of the public attention, and of the na-
tional energies, that there cannot be much surprise
entertained at a result which would have been incon-
testably lamentable under any other circumstances.
There have been, moreover, relations of amity to be
cultivated with continental powers after their ex-
trication from the difficulties of revolution, such as
materially assisted in distracting the regard of the
community from the progress made by constitutional
reform in the Houses of Lords and Commons. In-
ternational friendships, strengthened in a manner
more remarkable than can be called to mind in
any preceding year, render 1 851 satisfactory in
one particular at least, what though it may
be fraught with so many regrets in reference to long
desired innovations. Beneficial changes, nevertheless,
have been secured in like manner in one or two of the
departments of the Administration in the course of
the session just approaching its termination. It will
not very speedily be forgotten that it was during this
session that the country was at length relieved from
the incubus of the window- tax—an evil which was, how-
ever, imposed in another form almost as heavily in the
shape of a tax upon houses. During the Parlia-
mentary Session of 1851,s gain, the second three years of
income-tax was closed with its moderated re-imposi-
tion for twelve months additional. Toen, moreover,
it has been within this interval that the people have
witnessed with delight the tardy, and, perhaps, on
that very account, thrice satisfactory changes recently
introduced in the administration of affairs at the Ad-
miralty. Together with these gratifying changes, it
would unquestionably have been a source of profound
gratification to the multitude to have been enabled to
enumerate further postal improvements and sanitary
reforms, and reductions in the amount of the annual
expenditure. Such reasons for additional exultation,
however, have unhappily been denied to us, and we
can only cherish these things in our remembrance as
matters for ulterior achievement. Whether the
country will find reason, moreover, for rejoicing in the
completion of the Bill relating to the extension of the
county courts, to the amendment of the laws relating
to patents, or to the gigantic changes long required in
reference to the management of effairs in Chancery,
still remains problematical, so that we shall
continue to watch the proceedings of the next few
days in the Lords and Commons with unabated
or rather increasing solicitude. However much,
nevertheless, the community may find cause to regret
the postponement of any or all of the last-mentioned
innovations, it should be remembered that that post-
ponement will only be for a very moderate time indeed,
only, in fact, until the perioi when Parliament
shall again have assembled. Fur upon the necessity
of the changes specified there are no longer two opi-
nions within or without the walls of the Legislature.
The United States for one thing have shamed
us into the movement of reform directed
against the old ricketty system of the Court
of Chancery. The facts collected together
by inquiry, and forced upon general appreciation by
experience, in regard to the injury inflicted upon
inventors by the patent laws have compelled the Le-
gislature at last to step in to the relief of science at the
bidding of her MAJESTY'S Government. In reference,
likewise, to the County Courts, the extraordinary ad-
vantages accruing to the people from their original
establishment have induced reformers to perceive the
advisability of agreeing as to their extension. There-
fore it is, we repeat, that if delayed, these three im-
provements are only delayed for a very moderate
and calculable interval, namely, until such time
as Parliament shall in due course be re-assembled.
Not so with reference to a variety of other changes
equally desirable, the accomplishment of which will
necessitate the utmost exertions on the part of those
genuine upholders of reform who can be enumerated
among the ranks of the popular representatives.
Hence we cannot but reiterate that on surveying the
present session retrospectively, we do so, perhaps,
more than ever with mingled sentiments of regret and
exultation.

Valualola Instruction may be derived from the re-
cords of the various police. courts. Day after day
cases are brought forward, affording
useful lessons as
to the necessity of keeping the passions under con-
trol.--of recognising the first principle of society,
that every man must surrender a certain portion of
his natural liberty in return for the advantages
which he derives from his social position. The illus-
trations are, however, generally taken from persons of
bumble position. A man Without education, ignorant
of the law and of the duty which he owes to the
community, may give vent to a naturally brutal dis.