The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-18 00:00:00

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LONDON,
THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 18, 1834.

They are, indeed, but short-sighted in their gene-
ration—they have only reached the threshold of in-
telligence—who merely see, in the Great Reform Din-
ner given to Earl GREY and his late colleagues in the
Cabinet by the people of Scotland, an outward sign
of a nation's gratitude for important public services.
There is much more in the congregating of public and
private men, for the exposition of principles and the
avowal of purposes on the one part, and for the ex-
pression of thankfulness, gratitude, and confidence on
the other, than meets the eye simply satisfied with
gazing upon the external surfaces of things. When
the governors and the governed come thus together,
the one to prove the equity with which the sword and
the balance have been adjusted, the other to listen
with deference—to dissent with respect—and to ap-
prove with warmth, where gratitude is justly due—
we may assert, without fear of contradiction, that the
sceptre of despotism is for ever broken in England—
that the Divine Right system, so dear to the hearts of
a haughty aristocracy, is at last shattered in the
United Kingdom.... This is the more important to be
considered, as never before was the true principles of
representative power so completely developed, or so
effectually carried into operation. Formerly it was an
act of wonderful condescension for a member of the
House of Commons to accept a dinner from his con-
stituents, for the purpose of enlightening them as to
the line of policy which it pleased him to adopt in his
previous legislative career. But, lo ! the mighty
change which in four short years has been effected I
What in 1829 was a gracious condescension, of which
the inhabitants of whole counties, and sometimes of a
country, were expected to entertain the most grateful
remembrance, is now a duty which the nation is already
being taught by example to look upon as incumbent on
his MAJESTY'S Government. Well may the Tories
wail over this epitaph to the memory of their inhumed
principles ; and much may the country rejoice 'at this
triumph over feudal ignorance, and Aristocratic irre-

sponsibility.
We are not always disposed to examine too closely
the motives of human conduct ; and therefore we will
not attempt to investigate how far a desire of setting

an example to future governments may have influenced
those members of the late and present Cabinets, who
addressed the people of Scotland on this occasion. It
is enough that an example has been set, against the
propriety of which, it will henceforth be in vain to pro-
_ _

test. The door has been opened, and no power on earth
will ever again be able to close it. This is the main thing
to be considered, because in it is involved a principle
which is for the first time permanently established in
England. In a word, we have now a Representative
Government—a Government based upon the country's
appreciation of its opinions, honesty, and declared
purposes of future procedure.

But we would not have it inferred, because we de-
cline to examine with a severe and searching scrutiny
the motives of every member of the Reform Cabinet,
who appealed to the population of Scotland in
defence of the principles acted upon by the
Whig Government, that therefore the principal
personages were not impressed with a conviction of
setting an example to future times. Far from, it. Earl
GREY, in his address to the multitude by whom he was
surrounded, assured them that the spectacle Which then
filled all hearts with joy, was not so much " a record
of the past, as it would serve for a lesson for the
• future ;" and this sentiment, so worthy of a great,
liberal, and enlightened Statesman, was repeated in
nearly the same words by Lord DURHAM and Sir
JOHN C. HOBHOUSE. After eulogising the manifes-
tation of public spirit—of political principles in Edin-
burgh—the Right Hon. Baronet thus dwells upon the
imperishable bases upon which the conduct of the ti

Government rested, and their future determination to
regard it as the just and legitimate principle by which
they would henceforward be guided :
" As the Noble Earl, who is the object this day, not only of
yOur applause, but of that of the whole country,—as he, I say,
has told you, this occasion will serve not only for a record of
the past, but for a lesson for the future--it will not only tell
what he has done for the public, but it will tell whet other
men,, who, at a humble and a great distance, endeavour to
tread in his illustrious footsteps, may expect to earn from their
fellow-countrymen—it will teach them that if they try as well
and deserve as well, they may be sure, according to their meed
of merit, to receive their reward."—(Cheers.)

We must take another opportunity of pointing out
the importance, and of dwelling upon the patriotism
which distinguished the several speeches delivered by
the Noble Chairman, and the local authorities of
Scotland, who presided at this great national festival.
The subject is by far too important to be passed over
in a single article, the more especially as it embodies the
sentiments of an ancient kingdom, of an enlightened,
educated population—now a large, integral, and most
independent portion of a powerful empire—on all the
great principles. of Government, and the liberal policy
which has recently been pursued by his MAJESTY'S
Ministers.. Even among the individuals who were
present at.the banquet, there may be many but imper-
fectly acquainted with the effects of the expression of
their sentiments, and of the spirit in which the rest of
the country is disposed to attend to them. It

is further important that the demagogues, who are
at this moment disturbing the peace and endan-
gering the safety of Ireland, should be made
fully aware of the support which Ministers may
calculate upon, should- it be found necessary
to extinguish the sparks of sedition which
are now being scattered, by the coercive arm of
the law:- The rival factions that have hitherto
made a political scape-goat of the Ministry,
must be taught that they dare the vengeance of
a power as strong to repress evil—as powerful to
suppress incitement to rebellion—as mighty in the
maintenance of just principle—as independent of
a necessity ito conciliate the authors of out-
rage by forbearance, as the whole united energy,
power, and influence of England and Scotland can
make it. This, in all likelihood, is something more
than the BOYTONS, BERESFORDS, and O'CONNELLS

have anticipated.

The past week has been a proud one for Edinburgh
in every sense of the word. To say nothing of the
thousands of liberal and enlightened spirits that have
been thronging into it from all quarters, for the pur-
pose of paying their disinterested tribute of respect
to Earl GREY ; the Scottish metropolis has also been
the resort of many of the most distinguished men of
science of the day, foreigners as well as natives,
among the former of whom we may notice M. ARAGO,
the well-known French philosopher, who came to Edin-
burgh for the two-fold purpose of receiving and imparting
instruction. It is an ennobling—a heart-stirring sight,
to see the distinguished spirits of other countries thus
holding out the hand of fellowship to us—thus willing
to fraternize with us—thus making one of ourselves,
in the glorious endeavour to promote the interests of
science and philosophy. It is by means like these
that the cause of humanity is best helped forward—its
weak points best strengthened. Intellect is the fine,
subtle, but firm ligature which links nations as well as
men together in the bonds of one common brother-
hood. It is the redeeming portion of our nature,
without which we should be more abject than the
brutes that perish. It serves as a foil to the false
pride of birth ; smooths down the acerbities of party-
spirit ; removes the lines of demarcation by which the
prejudices of habit and circumstance separate one
kingdom from another ; brings them together ; and
forms of them one vast and amicable family. It is
for these reasons that we have read with the deep-
est interest of the scientific proceedings that have
lately taken place in the British Assisciation at Edin-
burgh. There we find men of all nations assem-
bled, not as mere spectators—not coldly and dis-
dainfully standing aloof in the pride of superior
pretensions—but each vying with the other in his
generous zeal to contribnte to the general stock of in-
tellect. These are the true philanthropists—these the
true conquerors of the world, whose victories will en-
dure when those of CJESAR and NAPOLEON are for-
gotten.

Dutch Papers of the 17th inst. have been received
late this afternoon. They state that the remaining
portions of the Schuttery had returned to their several
localities, and were cordially welcomed by their friends.
It appears that the Dutch bondholders of Spanish
stock have imitated the example of their French
neighbours, and have addressed the QUEEN REGENT
of Spain to recognise the various loans negociated
at Paris, Amsterdam, and London. The Address is
got up by the Directors and Committee of the New
Commercial Society of Amsterdam, in the name of the
merchants, bankers, and commissaries of Amsterdam,
holders of Spanish Stock.

DUTCH FUNDS—AMSTERDAM, SEPT. 16.
Actual Debt, 2)< per Cent.
Amort Syndic, 4). per cent. 8951 to 90
Ditto, ditto, 3% per cent.
Loan (1830) 5 per cent
Ditto (1832 and 1833) 5 per cent.
Exchange on Leiuh,i, one month
Ditto. t, ^ .lonths 12 07 5-10 to 12 10
—Dutch Papers, Sept. 17.
PRUSSIAN FUNDS—BERLIN, SErr. 12.
St. Schuld. Sch. 4 per cent.
Prussian English Loan, 1818, 5 per cent - --
Ditto 1822, 5 per cent.... --
Ditto Bonds lB3O, 4 per cent.... 95% 94%
Exchange on London, 3 months 6 25%
—Prussian State Gazette, Sept. 13.

The German Papers contain little or no news of
moment. They merely speak of some slight uneasi-
ness felt by the inhabitants of Scutari, respecting the
Porte's new system of recruiting the army, and levy-
ing the taxes.

ARRIVAL OF MR. COBBETT.—The Hon. Mem-
ber for Oldham arrived on Monday at Kingtown, by the
Holyhead packet. He was received on his landing by Gene-
ral Sir George Cockburn, Mr. Finn, M. P., and several other
personal friends. , After stopping for a short time at the resi-
dence of Mr. Finn, Mr. Cobbett set out for Shanganagh, the
magnificent seat of General Cockburn, near Bray, where he
will remain until Thursday next, when he will make his public
entry into Dublin. The Committee are making arrange-
ments to render it as effective as possible, and to mark, by his
reception, the gratitude of the Irish people for his honest and
disinterested advocacy of their claims.—Dublin ',Torn. Register.
We recommend those of our readers who are fond
of seeing rich and elegant dresses, to call in at Messrs.
Swain & Co.'s, Fleet-street, and see the suits of state livery
that they have made for the servants of A. Raphael, Esq.,
Sheriff Elect. They are certainly of most surpassing beauty,
particularly the gracefiLl and flowing ease of the vine branches
around the whole of the coats, embroidered with gold on a
bright blue cloth ; also the eagle (the worthy Sheriff's crest,
we believe), worked in like manner in the skirts of the coats.
We understand that Messrs. Swain & Co. had a carte blanch
of Mr. Raphael as regards both the plan and the cost of
these clothes ; what the cost may amount to we do not know, but
we have seen some of a former Sheriff's that we know cost
upwards of five hundred pounds for three suits, and which were
nothing in point of richness and elegance when compared with
these from the workshop of Messrs. Swain & Co.
On account of the present cheapness of apples on
the one hand, and the pressure of the malt tax on the other,
cider is taking the place of beer in counties where it has never
hitherto been heard of as an ordinary beverage.
A set of vagabonds are said to be perambulating the
country, selling this year's almanacks as those of the next, the
4 having been taken out of the
title page by some chemical
process, and a 5 neatly inserted in its stead.