The Sun.
London, England, 1835-06-09 00:00:00

CLAIMS OF LITERARY MEN.

(FROM A CORRRAPONDENT.

It had long been such a novelty in England (though of fre-
quent occurrence in all other countries of Europe) to find lite-
rary merit rewarded or encouraged by Kings or Ministers, that
the nation was equally gratified and surprised a few years ago,
when the late King George IV. directed that ten gentlemen
of distinguished eminence, in different branches of learning and
science, should be chosen by the Royal Society of Literature,
and attached to that Institution, under the title of " Royal As-
sociates." On these ten gentlemen his Majesty bestowed, by
endowment, an annual donation of 100 guineas to each. This,
we believe, was the first princely thing of the kind ever done
in England. But lately we have been delighted to see in va-
rious newspapers, and other periodical publications, the names
of several meritorious authors, both male and female, whom
Sir Robert Peel had placed on the pension list—Professor
Airy, at 300/. ; Southey, 300/. ; Mrs. Somerville, 2001. ; Mont-
gomery, 150/. ; Turner, 2001. ; besides handsome donations
from his own private purse to Mrs. Hemans and others. Of
all this, the papers lately (ministerial) very justly boasted; and
one (the Standard, of April 16,) affirms that of Sir Robert's
pensioners the majority were Whigs ; and it adds, " We
should like to see what Sir Robert's predecessors for four years
can set off against these pensions." Now, let it be remem-
bered that Lord Grey, above a year ago, restored to Mr. Mil-
lingen and Dr. Jamieson the pensions which they enjoyed for
a few years as two of the Royal Associates, above mentioned;
for the donation settled on them by George IV. was, to the
shame of those who suggested such a measure, withheld from
the day of his death. But why, in the restoration of these
pensions, should there have been a partial selection ? Or
have Millingen, Jamieson, and Turner, obtained this favour
through private influence, while equal claims of others are ne-
glected ? It is unworthy of Government and of the nation.
Of the ten original Associates four have died—the celebrated
Roscoe and Davies, Coleridge and Malthus. To three, as
we have shown, the pensions have been restored. There re-
main then but three—Mathias, Ouseley, and Todd, to claim
the renewal of his late Majesty's donation ; a royal endowment,
which, in every other country, would have been considered as
a permanent annuity for life, and the reduction of which,
scarcely a single tax-payer of the three kingdoms, whether
Tory, Whig, or Radical, would have approved. "By this
abject and unworthy act," says the Times of March 12th,
" the illustrious Mr. Coleridge, Mr. Roscoe, Mr. Sharon
Turner, and seven other meritorious men of letters, were rob-
bed of a pittance which was not conferred without due conside-
ration of circumstances, and was not withdrawn without the
infliction of severe hardship (there is reason to fear even of
poverty) upon the declining years of more than one distin-
guished writer. Had not an Englishman cause to blush for
his country when her statesmen, pampered with luxuries them-
selves, could select this scanty benefaction, bestowed upon the
necessities of men of letters, as the fittest object for retrench-
ment," &c.
Although we rejoice in the generosity evinced towards the
men of letters and ladies above-mentioned, we must venture to
remark that a minister, like a private individual, should be just
as well as generous. We have shown that death has removed
four of the original ten Associates, and Ministers have restored
their pensions to three. The remaining three, above named,
whose claims continue hitherto most unaccountably disregarded,
will soon, we trust, be placed by an impartial Minister, on the
same footing as their colleagues, Millingen, Jamieson, and
Turner.

DUBLIN, JUNE 2.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

As the present is a period, in which more than in any for
some years past, it is of importance to be well acquainted with
the true state and tone of public opinion, properly so called, I
propose furnishing you with such incidents as seem to me cal-
culated to illustrate and represent it in its most unequivocal
shape and form. Among those of most recent occurrence in
this country is a meeting held yesterday, in the parish of St.
Thomas, in this city, for the purpose of addressing Earl Mul-
grave, as the Representative of his Majesty, amongst us. The
proceedings are fully reported in the Morning Papers of this
day; and if you could devote a sufficient part of your valuable
paper to such reports at this moment, Mr. Dalton's speech
would, I think, compensate your readers for the absence of
more ordinary news. The circumstance of that gentleman's
coming forward in public at this crisis is in itself characteristic
of the times—he is a Roman Catholic Barrister, well-known
for his " auntient lere" and writings on matters interesting to
his country ; but he cannot be said to have been hitherto a po-
litician. His speech on this occasion will, however, show that
he is actuated by the spirit of Reform, founded on principles
which none but factionists can, with any pretensions to a
sense of national justice, repudiate. I regret the impossibility
of compressing into a single letter his refutation of the ca-
lumnies and misrepresentations which the allusion to Sir Con-
stantine Phipps, in the address from the College the other day,
has given rise to. Suffice it to say, that it is well worthy of
the attention of those who are truly interested in the welfare
of this country, and temperately disposed to aid in effectuating
its peace and happiness. It was well received by a respectable
and intelligent meeting; and coming from such a man, and at
such a time, is an indication to Government of the duties they
have to perform, and of the aid and support they may expect
in the performance of such duties.
A meeting for a similar purpose is expected to take place in
a few days, in the adjacent parish of St. George, and there
can be very little doubt but that the example will be followed
by the other parishes of this metropolis and its vicinity, and
probably by all Ireland. Such is the consequence of sending
to Ireland a Viceroy, from whom, because of his name and fa-
mily associations, much good is expected. That these expec-
tations may not be disappointed will depend, not less on the
decisive measures adopted generally by the present Cabinet,
than on his own firmness and character. In no part of the
empire can the principles of Lord Melbourne's Government be
developed more fully than in Ireland ; and it is mainly
by their conduct in regard to this country that they will
be judged of by the United Kingdom. For whatever
improvements may be requisite for England, and other
parts of the British dominions, in Ireland alone is it
necessary to undo the effects of the misgovernment of ages.
This is not now the doctrine of Whigs or Catholics, or any
isolated party ; it is admitted by persons of every class, creed,
and political colour ; the only difference of opinion being, as
to the means of carrying it into effect. The Tories and old
monopolists say, they only can carry on the necessary mea-
sure of Reform in a safe and satisfactory manner ; while the
nine-tenths of the nation exclaim, " You have too long de-
ceived us—we are afraid to trust you—we shall try other
agents ; should they disappoint us too, we shall attempt a
different system, independent of the parties who heretofore re-
gulated the economy of our Constitution and country." This
latter threat will be carried into effect, if the present Govern-
ment be slow in complying with the people's demands ; or if
the Tories defeat their best endeavours by that system of po-
licy and combination which they are now pursuing. It is
therefore incumbent on all those, who would preserve our Con-
stitution in a reformed state, restoring the rights and liberties
of a large portion of their fellow-countrymen, to rally round
the present Government as long as they prove themselves
worthy of liberal support. With this feeling a great propor-
tion of the people of this country, not accustomed to inter-
meddle in public matters, are now manifesting a disposition to
oppose Tory intrigue and combination. As an instance, lam
just now informed, that Lord Plunkett being about to dine, at
King's Inn, to-day, the first time of his attendance there
as bencher, since his appointment to the Chancellorship, an
immense number of the bar and attornies are to attend, in
testimony of their confidence in, and support of the present
Government.

~ NIL DESPERANDUM."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—Notwithstanding the agitation existing in England,
consequent to the warfare carried on between the two great
parties, never was a fairer prospect held out to a suffering
and expectant country. The Tories are undeniably desperate,
intriguing, and hollow ; were their power commensurate to
their wishes, they would to-morrow put to flight every shadow
of Reform, restore the odious privileges of particular castes,
and joyfully fasten round our necks the chain of abject servi-
tude : but, not losing sight of this, we must at the same time
allow that, in spite of their resisting efforts, they are hurried
down the stream of popular will, and that, with minds mossed
with what BERANGER aptly calls " prejuges Gothiques," they
yet dare not come into the open field of contest, save under the
protecting banner of Liberty. They profess themselves willing
to correct manifest abuses, and destroy whatever is proved a
violation of justice, who, within the recollection of the youngest
politician, declared any alteration a departure from the Con-
stitution, and an excuse for its subversion. Our institutions
were so perfect that the attempt at amendment was deemed
an idle experiment, and time, losing its corrosive qualities, had
strengthened and rendered iem more solid and durable. The
man, for example, who ventured to hint that the Church might
possibly require repairing—that Corporations were by nature
liable to decay—that the claims of Dissenters were, at least,
worth attention, as emanating from a large and increasing
body—the bare mention, I say, of these, was sufficient to con-
demn the solitary speaker to negligence and contempt ; by
some set down for a rash enthusiast; by others, less charitably
inclined, considered a rogue and atheist, and shunned by all
as an undesirable and dangerous companion. The faculties
of the people on political subjects were apparently benumbed,
and, during the relaxation which followed the fever of war,
a word in favour of Reform was construed into a signal for
plunder and revolution I What a change, then, has come over
the spirit of the times, when we behold the doughty champion
of Dissent in the person of Sin ROBERT PEEL I—when we
hear the impatient convert placing the power of the Com-
mons far above that of Aristocracies and Kings—when we
find the ablest organ of the Protean sect plunging
into the fiery abyss of Radicalism, and fearlessly re-
commending TILE ANNIHILATION OF MUNICIPAL CORPORA-
TIONS, IN TOTUM. Unfortunately, however, we have a
natural, almost an invincible, repugnance to new-born zeal.
Political principles are so interwoven with every circumstance
of life, that the sincere abandonment of them is a matter of
rare occurrence, and never are they suddenly thrown off, ex-
cept, indeed, through the active agency of inspiration or per-
spiration, as in the memorable case of the valiant Knight of
thc Malt, Ido ;lot mean to infer that opinions are always
bef:aiise it 15 cpvtfliit that as we
jel.l i
advance dityearswisdom,;ficietii' we 50 many things in a more
subdued, and oftener, therefore, in a more fational light ; but
I contend that we have just reason to suspect a PARTY, which
(observe, not meliorates, but) turns at once directly upon its
former views. On this account, few persons place confidence
in the present shifting generation of Tories. They have shown
a flexibility of back-bone which, how requisite soever to a
disciple of GRIMALDI, is no recommendation in statesmen;
they have descoticsi from that hip scat where, enthroned in