The Sun.
London, England, 1835-03-11 00:00:00

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PRICE 7D.

fare. The faultless performance of the overture to Oberon de-
served the warmest commendation. Mr. BaumanWs scientific
and skilful management of the bassoon afforded an admirable study
for the English players on that difficult instrument. With the ex-
ception of the " Corragio or Su," from the Fidelio of Beethoven,
the vocal selection was worse than indifferent. Miss Mason made
choice of the composition of some obscure genius, named Stunz ;
and Madam Caradori Allan was equally unfortunate in selecting an
unmeaning scene from Norma, an opera whose claims to merit are
of the most slender description. The mischief perhaps lies in
permitting the singers to have a voice in the selection, as well as
the performance, of the vocal music introduced at this and similar
concerts. The vanity, or misplaced conceit, of this class of the
profession ought not to be glowed to raise a barrier against the
improvement of the public taste.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The Marquis of Chandos has, as we anticipated, redeemed
his pledge to his constituents, by persevering in the ma'tinn
which he brought forward last night, for the Repeal of the
Malt Tax. Great anxiety had been felt and expressed during
the last few days in many quarters, at the approach of a ques-
tion upon which it was known that the agricultural interests
felt strongly, and upon which it was equally well known that
the Ministers, for obvious reasons, felt strongly also, though,
unhappily, in a different sense—the one denouncing the impost
as a burden on the land, the other clinging to it as a productive
source of taxation. Amongst the conjectures to which this
state of anxiety gave rise the postponement of the question for
the present became very general. We need not say that the
conjecture was erroneous, for our columns this clay record one
of the most important debates that has ever taken place on the
subject. In the speech of the Marquis of Chandos will be
found a striking exposition of the whole case of the Malt duty,
not only in its bearing upon the agricultural interests, but upon
the general interests of the community. Nothing could be
more characteristic of the manly qualities of the Noble
Speaker's mind than the ardour with which he expressed
his determination to keep faith with his constituents. " He
could assure the head of his Majesty's Government that it was
not with any view of embarrassing them—it was exclusively
in fulfilment of his pledge to his constituents, and of the duty
which he considered he owed the country ; and deeming it to
be his duty to bring it forward, nothing under Heaven should
prevent him bringing forward the motion." But, in spite of
this ardour, in spite of the sound practical views contained in
the speech itself, and of the impressive and affecting eloquence
by which they were enforced, the motion was lost by a large
majority, and thus another instance was added by another Par-
liament to the many already upon record, which prove the dif-
ficulty of overcoming old and rooted prejudices, even in assem-
blies and amongst minds that make a boast of their superior
intelligence. It is mortifying to see a Minister like Sir Ro-
bert Peel set himself, at a moment like this, against a measure
to which the agriculturists have long looked as the best means
of affording them relief. As for the bugbear of a property
tax, upon which he seemed to rely so much, and upon which
his reliance most certainly did not fail him, every one who
looks at the financial condition of the country, must know
that, to a property tax, in one shape or other, we
shall be obliged to come at last. Even the Members
of that House, with whom we are persuaded this argument had
more influence, because it came in the shape of a threat, than
any argument applying more directly to the question—even
the Members of that House are aware that a Property Tax
must in the long run be resorted to, as the only practicable
means of shifting the pressure of taxation from those who are
not able to those who are able to bear it. Looking at it in
this light, what a short-sighted policy does that appear which,
merely for the purpose of gaining time, or adding a few years
_it may be months—to the exemption in which they exult at
present, would run the risk of alienating an important class of
his Majesty's subjects from the Government and institutions of
the country. Well might Lord Chandos warn the Admini-
stration, as he did last night, that a few proceedings of this
kind would destroy all confidence in their measures, and all
hope from their establishment in office. Those only who are
acquainted with the state of the agricultural districts can form
an idea of the disappointment with which the decision of the
new Ministry and the second reformed Parliament—will be
received amongst them. It may have saved the Administration
some trouble in the financial arrangements for tLe year, but it
will neither add to their strength, nor benefit their reputation,
nor increase the chances upon which they may calculate for a
continuance of their power.—Jlorning Herald. .000
The Tory evening papers of last night made as much noise
as they could in the few quarters in which they are received,
to induce theie- readers to believe that the question of the
Malt Tax was ono of the highest importance, and that if Sir
Robert Peel were beaten upon it, he would resign his office.
Our readers are aware that the noise was a mere pretence on
the part of those journals, and of the party to which they are
pledged, of having the opportunity this day of boasting of a
majority in favour of his Majesty's Ministers—it being'perfectly
well known to all whose business it was to know it, that the
Marquis of Chandos was compelled, bylathe pledges which
he had given to his constituents, to bring forward his
motion—but that, under the altered circumstances of the
times, he had no special objection to be beaten. It
was known also, that the late Ministry, both as a
matter of consistency, and in order to avoid the slightest
imputation of factious proceeding, would pursue the
course which they had followed during the last Session of Par-
liament, whatever the advantage of it might be to the anti-
national Cabinet with which we are now blessed—and it is to
them, and to the honourable men who voted with them last
year, that the defeat of the motion of the Marquis of Chan-
dos is fairly to be attributed. Had they either stood aloof or
voted in favour of the motion, the Ministry would have been
left in a minority. For our own part we are favourable to the
repeal—first, because every reduction of taxation is a national
benefit, because it must lead to economy on the part of the
Government—and, secondly, because, were the tax repealed,
we should have in its stead, and instead of the Excise laws,
the only tax which ought to exist in any country—A Property
Tax. The debate exhibited many curious features, of which
we must take notice as soon as see can find room. The cri-
ruination and recrimination were all but unexampled.—Morn-
ivy Advertiser.
It will be seen from the Gazette that a Commission has
passed the great seal, appointing Lord Wharncliffe, bir J.
Kempt, Mr. Cutlar Fergusson, and Sir E. Barnes, amongst
others, Commissioners for enquiring into the effect produced
upon the discipline of the army by the punishments now re-
sorted to, and to consider whether some other kind of punish-
ment may not be substituted for that of flogging, without de-
triment to the military service. We rejoice at the appoint-
ment of the above-mentioned Commission, because public opi-
nion in this country has long required that the barbarous prac-
tice of torture by the cat-o'-nine-tails should, save only in
cases of absolute necessity, be unknown to the British service ;
and indeed has been pretty much inclined towards the
conclusion, that no occasion can arise wherein some other
punishment of equal efficacy, both to reclaim the culprit
and to deter the beholders, might not be advantageously
employed. The question will, we hope, now be brought
to an issue, in which the country may feel disposed
to concur. Whether flogging has not been used
too frequently, and with in many instances a brutal
disregard of the interests both of humanity and of military
discipline, is no question at all. There is scarcely a martinet
to be found throughout the service who will not plead guilty to
the charge of having flogged his men oftener than wass abso-
lutely necessary, "but that was in times gone by." The pnly
question now is, whether flogging can in every case withots;
exception, whether in peace or war, be got rid of. The sub-
ject could hardly be placed in more judicious hands than those
to which it has been intrusted, the chief of the commission
being Lord Wharncliffe, a man of considerable shrewdness,
whose long experience as a chairman of the quarter sessions must
have closely familiarised him with the operation of secondary pu-
nishments upon various classes of crime, and the other members
being all individuals of known reputation in military or civil
life. The most difficult branches of the duty imposed on
the Commissioners will be to suggest the means of some
prompt and vigorous substitute for the disgusting cat-of-nine-
tails, in cases of gross insubordination On the part of armed
soldiers, and of some effectual and lasting preventive of the
dangerous vice of drunkenness prevalent among the British
troops, which betrays men so easily into mutinous words and
deeds, and tends so directly to demoralize all lab° indulge in
it. We would further recommend the propriety of considering
whether the nobler passions of emulation and ambition might
not be made auxiliary to the maintenance of discipline in the
army of a free country, even more than the degrading
cue of terror. Why are rewards or honours so seldom
thought of as supports to discipline, and encouragers both
of a military and moral character among the non-com-
missioned oilicers and private soldiers of the army of
Great Britain ? Even as respects officers, there is perhaps
too exclusive a spirit in the bestowal of military decora-
tions—that of the Bath, for instance, which both in the naval
and military service is confined to the uppar ranks of officers—
in the former, if we are not mistaken, to As:aairals and Post
Captains, and in the latter to General Officers and Colonels.
We see no reason why, as in other countries, an oilier of mili-
tary merit might not be instituted, the decorations or which
should in cases of distinguished conduct be accessible to the
humblest private in the ranks, no less than to the most veteran ,
officer. Increased pay, moreover—increased pension on dis-
charge,—nay, the subsequent right of voting, for members of
Parliament in his native town or county, or to that in which
he should fix his residence after quitting the service, would
all be worth the trouble of considering, -at least' as to their
probable effects upon
warns
the soldier's feelings and habits.
And with respect to raisingr
officers, we ae prvaatdevsocto
tetshe fo
whenever there shall be a • rrank such of
acommis-
sionedresut
greaterimprovement in general edu-
cation, but we confess we doubt h success of ah an expe-
dient .
client in the actual state of 7 since the
tae service, eapecia _
sensible improvement whi&) has taken place
in ,he • education
and attainments of thy
variably appointed ta who are now all nnst in-
variably young men
rations
of Quartermaste. commissions in the line. The sitt
generally \ as- and Adjutant are frequently (we under. stamd
offia- nticd by persons who have bean non-commissio.le,ir
sars,'and have therefore risen from the ranks. But how t,
the higher functions of the service could in the present state of
military science be discharged by individualsso
indifferently