The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-09 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

am emboldened to address you again
I the abovenamed most important question, on
whereby
I think I can prove I have been a correct sooth-
sayer in my former letters to you of the 6th and
18th ultimo, as regarded the probability of the Go-
vernment bringing in a Reform Bill. Not only
have they done so, but Lord Derby has accepted
the resignation of two of his ablest colleagues on
account of their well-known hostility to the passing
of a Reform Bill. So much for the noble Premier'
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, moreover, in his
from
xhieopeningh weixsshipsiteneeade hon
n t
Reformin
nth
e returngootdold
tlthdhee ootlhde rs t
antiee hot sf,
things a r
days of the Georgia°
era, gave it as his unqualified opinion that England
had never been better governed than during the last
thirty years. Now this was a most fair and impar-
tial statement, on the part of Mr. Disraeli ; it di':
not savour of anything like factiousness on his part
towards those who, only one short year ago, were
in possession of the sweet and savoury things °f
office. It is a well-known fact that for by far th:
greater portion of the above-named epoch England
has been governed by the Whigs.
Now had the learned Chancellor of the Exche-
quer entertained any factious or ill feeling towards
that party who has been politically opposed to him
for so many years, it would have been easy enough
for him to have made out a good case in the oppo-
site direction. But now comes the thread of mY
argument, i.e.,—is Lord Derby the same individual
in this year of grace 1867 that he was in 1833 when
he was Mr. Stanley, Irish Secretary in the Whig
Government, which had carried the great Reform Bill
only one siaort year previously, and when he startled
and terrified the ultra Tory and High Church party of
of those days by suppressing no fewer than ten
Irish bishoprics? Physiologists tell us that every
particle of matter undergoes a complete change in
every human being after a lapse of a certain num-
ber of years. But still, nevertheless, we arc as long
as we live not different,' but the same people. The
immortal John Locke and the learned Bishop Butler
also treat most learnedly on the above-named meta-
physical and physiological subject; it is, however,
more the province by far of the divine and the
physician than that of the politician. I have merely
alluded to it in order to show that both our noble
Premier, as well as our learned Chancellor of the
of the Exchequer, who were, 34 years ago, in 1833/
united with the extreme Liberals of that period, do
not entertain such different opinions, and are by
no means such different individuals now in 1867 to
what they were in 1833. Ido not believe that our
learned Premier regrets the least bit in the world
the part he took in suppressing the ten Irish bishop-
rics in 1833, nor do I imagine for one instant he
wonld undo it for the world. He simply does not
think Reform necessary to the same extent now as
he did then. A reasonable and fair measure of
Reform I feel satisfied we shall have this session
from the present Ministry, provided they are only
let alone and not disturbed by any factious or need-
lessi opposition. Butt will not do for them or their
supporters to cry before they are out of the wood.
Mr. Gladstone did himself very great credit by the
tone of moderation and forbearance he displayed
the other night in the house towards the present
Ministry. But we cannot be sure that this will con-
tinue until the Reform Bill has reached the House
of Lords. So much for the chances of reform.
Then, as regards legal, sanitary, philanthropic, and
church reforms, I feel certain they are all in far safer
hands with the present Government than with their
opponents. Only this session a bill has found its
way into the Lower House for the reform of our
Courts of Common Law and the abolition of their
separate jurisdictions. This measure albeit
brought in principally by the Opposition
and
opposed by the Government, still, never theless /
it proves most incontestably how far more
useful the Whigs are in opposition than in office/
and what a good thing it will be if they should be
banished for several years to the bleak and dreary
regions of the Opposition, as what single measure
of reform or progress did they ever bring forward
during their recent seven years' tenure of office-
-
I am convinced that no branch of reform or
pro
gress will be the least impeded by being placed in
the hands of her Majesty's present advisers. Let
the country, therefore, give the present Ministry a
fair trial, which even Mr. Gladstone, as I hayo
already remarked, to his credit be it spoken, seems
disposed to do. I will merely add, in conclusion,
that I myself belong to no party, political or rel
ous, but am for measures and not for men. I shunli
be first and foremost to turn against the present or
any other Government if I thought it was not acting
in all respects for the true interests of the country/
which I do not consider was the case with the soi"
disant Liberals lately during their tenure of office.
• 'it the Op
Ad
Again, and for the last time, let MC entreat
position and the country to give the present
ministration a fair trial, as I'have no doubt the leac
iI
• dividuals they were n
ing members are the same in
day5.......1 re-
days of yore, in their so-called Liberal
main, Sir, your most obedient servant,
A LOVER OF HISTORICAL DATES AND gAcTs•

A LADY BURIED ALIVE.—At France,
the other day, while the interment of an aged lady was
taking place, a noise was heard to proceed from the grave.
Upon the body being exhumed it was found to be warm,
but without any other sign of life. A medical examination
showed that death had occurred at the time of exhUniation.
FUNERAL OF " ARTEMUS WARD."—The remaing
of Mr. Charles F. Browne were this day deposited
Kensal-green Cemetery. The procession started at
one
o'clock from the residence of Mr. Charles Millward, Mal-
den-crescent, Princo of Wales -road, ITaverstock-bill. The
carriages of the friends of the deceased joined the recce-
-Bion at Mr. house.