The Sun.
London, England, 1832-01-06 00:00:00

CREATION OF PEERS

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
have seen with infinite satisfaction
the statements in the Papers of the last few days,
that it is the intention of his Majesty's Ministers
to advise the King to ensure the success of the
Reform Bill by the creation of new Peers. It is
indeed what Earl Grey remarked of the Reform
Bill itself, " a bold measure ;" but in times of
excitement, and in moments of danger, boldness
is the truest wisdom.

At present England is suffering in all her in-
terests the evils of suspense. It is suspense that
paralyses her spirit of commercial enterprise ;
that stays the hand of industry ; and that has
spread distress and want through the empos
riums of her trade. Suspense ! Suspense as
to the fate of that Bill on which its hopes, and
wishes, and expectations are fixed, is the incubus
that now weighs down the energies of the coun-
try, and prevents their healthy action.
In great changes of Government (and who
will deny that such a change is the Reform Bill ?)
it is never safe to procrastinate or to daily with
awakened hopes. The maxim with Napoleon,
with respect to war, " strike boldly, having
first well determined where to strike," is
equally applicable to politics. No great change
should ever be proposed until well con-
sidered and thoroughly matured ; but having
been so considered, and being so matured, it
should be carried into execution with prompti-
tude and decision. If in the present state of
public feeling Ministers do not take the lead, if
they do not prove themselves men fitted for the
crisis, they will expose themselves to censure,
and the State to all the evils that would result
from the plans and schemes of those specula-
tors in politics and traders in legislation, who
can only exist in the atmosphere of civil tumult
and commotion. It is to save the State from
these men—it is to prevent their acquiring the
ascendancy, that, as the Ministers have hitherto
acted " well," I trust they will now act " quickly."
Blind must they be to the signs of the times,
who do not observe the dangers that threaten us
from various points of the horizon. In Ireland
iffairs are rapidly approaching to a crisis; and if
Mr. O'Connell intend to act up to his reported
language, " that after the Reform Bill is passed,
he will not be satisfied ;" what is it but an addi-
ional reason to pass the Bill without delay, in
order that the Government, free from the em-
barrassments attending its discussion, may he
able to direct its attention to the amelioration of
the condition of that unfortunate country, and
with a strong hand to repress the frenzy of
party violence ; whether proceeding from the
fanaticism of the Orange party, the treachery of
priests, or the agitation of demagogues ? Abroad,
ye hear ill-omened rumours from Russia; having
gorged itself with the blood of Poland, the
Northern eagle looks forward to fresh prey, and
plumes its wings for another flight. The Cabinet
of St. James's is in the most difficult dilemma
that could have arisen ; on the one hand bound
to enforce the protocols and to oppose the views
of the Northern Autocrat ; on the other bound
!iy every consideration of British policy to pre-
serve the power and independence of Holland,
to keep Belgium free from the influence of
France. Here again exists a cogent, a powerful,
a pressing reason to pass this Bill without an
hour's unnecessary delay, in order that United
Britain may exercise her proper influence, and
that neither the honour nor the interests of the
country may be forgotten amidst the jarring
clamours of domestic politics. If Ireland is
to be saved from civil commotion ; if Russia is
to be checked in her career ; if the independence
of the Low Countries is to be preserved, this
Bill must be passed, and passed without delay !
But, cry the crew of ephemeral politicians
who gather their ideas from the diatribes of the
Tory Press, and regard not history except as
edited with variorum readings, by the ex-
Secretary of the Admiralty," The Constitution
is subverted if such Peers are made !"
What ! did iNIr. Pitt subvert the Constitution
when he advised so many Peers to be made in a
single reign, and during his single administra-
tion, to support his views and system 7. Did
Lord Liverpool subvert the Constitution when
he advised the exercise of the prerogative fbr the
same purpose, and in the same manner ? Is it
unconstitutional for the King to exercise that
prerogative, which the Legislature in the reign
of George the First, after long debates and full
consideration, refused to limit and curtail ?
Was Sir Richard Steele unread in the Constiw-
tion, who said in the debates on that occasion
" that if it could be proved that the twelve Peers
created in Queen Anne's reign were created to
save the State, and for the benefit of the whole,
the statesman who advised it would deserve the
thanks of all mankind, for exposing himself to the
misrepresentation ?ffuture Parhamentsfor the
benefit
qt his fellow-subjects. The prerogative
can do no hurt, when Ministers do their duty ;
but a settled number of Peers may abuse
their power, when no one is answerable for them
or can call them to account." Such was Steele's
opinion, and in unison with it was Sir Robert
Walpole's, who, in the same debate, warmly de-
fended the expediency of leaving the King the
powHosu iesnrecsteoriadjusty:they
th e any
creation
odifferencesPeers.betweenat
Ministers
tt e
will
10l
addl
another claim to those which they now have
by a creation of Peers, which will enable them,
by carrying the Bill, to restore commercial pros-
perity, to revivify credit, to suppress all visionary
schemes and plans of agitation, whether Irish or
English, to maintain the honour and interests o.
the country abroad, and which is a measure, the
propriety of which has been sanctioned by the
votes of the Legislature in the reign of George
the First, by the opinions of the eminent States-
men of those days, and which is opposed only
by those very men, the great leaders of whose
own party (Mr. Pitt and Lord Liverpool) in.
variably acted on the principle which their sui-
disant admirers and pupils now so loudly de-
claim against.
I tun, Sir, your obedient servant,
ALPHA,

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE--(THIS DAY.)

FROM LLOYD'S,

DEAL, JAN. s.—Wind E.S.E.—Sailed the E'phin-
stone, for India; the Flora, from Emsden to Bordeaux,
ran on the Goodwin Sands this morning, but got off and
proceeded.
FALMOUTH, JAN. 4.—Wind S. to S.S.E., strong
breezes and squally.—Arrived the Frolic picket. nom
Bueno4 Ayres, sailed 6th October, from Monte Video,
the 11th, and Rio Janeiro the 6th Nov. ; also the 1-I"Pei
from Buenos Ayres, sailed October 31, Monte Video, 7th
Nov., and Rio Janeiro, 21 ; Spey packet, from Lisbon,
y
sailed 22d ult. ; Hermes steam packet, from P 1 mouth,
for the Mediterranean.
MILFoan, JAN. 4.--Arrived the Robert Dewar,
White, from Riga.

Extract of a letter from the Agent to Lloyd'', at Rio
Janeiro, dated Nov. 19 :--
By the last accounts from the wreak (Thetis„ R e
learn that nearly a thousand dollars had heart recovered
subsequently to the departure of the Lyra packet, an 1 ti+e,
work was proceeding with hove of further suocelel"