The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-01 00:00:00

TaME.L,---4)1111t

LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1844.

The House of Commons met at Twelve o'clock,
when a great number of Bills were read a third time
and passed. Most of them were Bills of little im-
portance to the public.
On the House re-assembling at Five o'clock, Sir
C. NAPIER put some questions to Sir R. PEEL rela-
tive to the strange proceedings of the French at Ota-
heite. Sir R. PEEL said the Government had re-
ceived dispatches from that island relating to the events
which had taken place, and he had no hesitation in
saying that a gross outrage, accompanied by a gross
indignity had been committed by the French officer,
on the station. The British Government has lost no
time in making'such communications to the Cabinet
of LOUIS PHILIPPE as the circumstances required.
He had no doubt the French Government would
make the necessary reparation for such conduct.

Lord INGESTRE moved for copies of the correspon-
dence which had taken place between the Govern-
ment and Captain WARNER relative to his invention.
Sir R. PEEL did not oppose the motion, and entered
at considerable length into the communications which
had taken place between Captain WARNER and the

official authorities, as well as to the experiments
which had been made. The speech cannot be
abridged; but evidently the Right Hon. Baronet had
no great faith in the discovery, and stated some facts
which Captain WARNER must answer.
After a few observations from other Members, cer-
tain of the papers were ordered.
The Insolvent Debtors Bill was read a second
time ; to be committed on Friday.'
Mr. GIBsoN moved that the petition of Mr. JOHN
HEATHCOTM, who was dismissed from his situation of
superintendent of factories, on the charge of having
written an anonymous letter to Mr. FERNAND, be
taken into consideration. This gave rise to some
discussion, and an explanation from Sir J.-GRAHAM.
On a division the motion was lost by a majority of
seven.

The other orders of the day were then disposed of
and the House adjourned at a Quarter before Twelve
o'clock.

If Louts PHILIPPE and his Prime Minister, M
GUlZOT—both men of great tact, prudence, and ex-
perience—do not become more circumspect in their
appointment of officers to distant stations, we fear
the peace of the world cannot be much longer pre-
served. Every now and then an escapade is com-
mitted by some half-fledged Prince, or junior officer
—and, but verylately, a veteran Admiral was equally
guilty—circumstances which lead to one of two con-
clusions, either that no proper selection is made, or
that the King of the FRENCH is not displeased to see
a little brusquerie displayed by his sons and his
favourite officers. Believing that that able and far-
seeing Prince has no wish to embroil him-
self with this country, and that he looks
upon a friendly alliance with England as the
bast safe-guard of his dynasty ; we must con-
clude that the objectionable acts of the French officers,
which have occurred within a few years are to be
ascribed to their own incapacity or vain conceit.
The Prince DE JOINVILLE committed himself in a
most extraordinary manner on the coast of Mexico,
by arresting a pilot on board of an English vessel of
war. He, of course, was obliged to apologise for his
ignorance, and the affair was hushed up. Then came
the affair of Admiral DEPETIT TUOUARS, which was
no less irregular, and at once disowned. The Bri-
tish Government rested satisfied with the explana-
tions of M. GUIZOT, and trusted that there would be
no occasion to complain a third time, when unfor-
tunately a still more atrocious breach of the law
of nations is committed by MM. BROUAT and D'Au-
BIGNEY—the one a naval officer, and the other the
acting protector of the Otaheite islands. The British
Consul is made a prisoner, treated as a felon, and,
after a disgraceful arrest and lengthened incarcera-
tion is banished from the island. We know not what
his offences are, further than from the laconic an-
nouncement of M. D'AUBIGNEY :—" A French sen-
tinel was attacked on the night of the 2d and 3d of
March. In reprisal, I have caused to be seized one
PRITCHARD, the only daily mover and instigator of
the disturbances of the natives. His property shall
be answerable for all damage occasioned to our esta-
blishments by the insurgents; and if French blood
is spilt, every drop shall recoil on his head."
Such language is insulting, and totally indefensible.
It is the language of a man who thinks himself per-
fectly safe, and may play any pranks in such a remote
region. The French Government cannot defend it.
They must make ample amends for the outrage, not
only by disowning the conduct of their agent, but by
degrading him, or bringing him to trial for what Sir
ROBERT PEEL last night justly described as a gross
outrage, accompanied by a gross indignity. The
people of this country will not be satisfied with an
apology. France invaded Algiers, because the
French Consul, in an altercation with the Dey, re-
ceived a slap on the cheek with a fan—no great
annoyance in a hot climate—while the British
Consul is arrested, imprisoned, and banished.
We sincerely regret this unfortunate and mad pro-
ceeding. England has no wish to go to war with
France, but France must teach her agents better
manners, more knowledge of the laws of civilised
countries, and more respect for a nation that she
knows will never brook an insult. There are other
circumstances:, however, but too well calculated to
rouse the jealousy of Englishmen. France has occu-
pied a vast extent of the African coast, on the plea
that a French Consul was insulted ; but, not content
with that she is advancing towards the Straits of
Gibraltar. She is at war with Morocco, and in a few
days we may hear that Tanjiers and Tetuan are
occupied by French troops. These are all sus-
_piclous circumstances ; and if Lord ABERDEEN does
not soon clear up the mystery, perhaps he
may find some morning that Lord PALMERSTON and
Sir C. NAPIER will relieve him from his labours.
One thing is certain. England can allow no great
maritime nation to form settlements and build for-
tresses along the Straits of Gibraltar. Her posses-
sions in the Mediterranean and in India are of too
m`uch importance to allow such an aggression. We
trust the French Government will see the 'cal Fosi-
tion in which they are placed by their agents, and do
justice to a country which is anxious to remain at
peace—but peace on honourable terms.

After a brief interval of repose, the Anti-Corn-
Law League are again about to commence their
necessary task of strenuous agitation. On Wednes-
day next,-- we understand, they purpose holding
another great meeting in Covent-garden Theatre.
which is to be the last of the season ; and they wil
then, we presume without delay, proceed to the pro-
! vinces, there to agitate the repeal of the bread-tax
I unremittingly during the Parliamentary recess. It
is only by such continuous perseverance that the
question stands the slightest chance of being carried.
for the agricultural districts—notwithstanding the
numerous free-trade proselytes that have been made
in them by the strong practical common sense of Mr.
COBDEN and the other members of the League—
are yet far from being sufficiently enlightened on the
subject ; and there is no gainsaying the fact that the
decided langauge—decided at least for him—held by
Sir ROBERT PEEL at the commencement of the ses-
• sion, has infused new spirit and confidence into the
monopolists, and consequently multiplied the obstacles
to the total abolition of the corn-laws. We do not
say this in order to discourage the advocates of un-
restricted trade ; far otherwise, we say it in order to
put them on their mettle, to rouse their energies, and
spur them on to fresh exertions. There is nothing in
their present position which, calmly and rationally
considered, need give them cause for the slightest dis-
couragement. They still stand on broad vantage
ground ; public opinion is still as much with them as
ever it was; and not one of the arguments which their
leaders have put forth, whether within or without
the walls of Parliament. have yet been refuted. All
the resources which their opponents can venture to
bring against them, are such only as are supplied by
ignorant prejudice and inveterate obstinacy—preju-
dice that scorns to yield to conviction, and obstinacy
that takes a perverse pride in its own display. These
are but sorry resources to calculate on, and, as in the
memorable case of Catholic Emancipation, where all
the reason was on the one side and all the bigotry on
the other, they cannot fail, in the long run, to yield
to the irresistible supremacy of common sense and
justice. Tedious as the winter months may appear to
those who are anxiously looking forward to the ad
vent of spring, we know that they have their
appointed term ; and long as may seem
the period that must elapse ere the exe-
crable corn-laws are for ever erased from
the statute-book, which they have been too
long permitted to disgrace, we all know full well that
that desirable period must come, and that no human
means can protract it beyond one, or at the utmost
two years. Indeed, as we have observed a dozen
times already, the question of the total abolition of
the bread-tax is merely a question of time, which will
be either long or short, just according to the degree
of spirit with which the repeal of the impost is agi-
tated. Were the matter to be put to
_the vote to-
morrow throughout England none can doubt that it
would be carried by an overwhelming majority;
but its opponents, though contemptible in point of
numbers, are still powerful by means of their wealth,
station, and other adventitious influences, con-
Lseeqaugennetlyhasaallt
itstheeomvtnasatnd,minoruaslt
hfoerecoenowenhtircahtedt—he
bearantagonist -
ns t
irtetni
nggt hl
ye,nae
nd
d—winiathtuoruetd—dearilayd bargoauignhstt ttohe
power of Monopoly. As St. JUST said to his col-
leagues in the Committee of Public Safety :—" Dare !
that is the great secret of Revolutions !" so we say to