The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-22 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1850.

The semi-official announcement, upon which we
have already commented, to the effect that the answer
to the Speech from the Throne will be moved in the
Commons by the Hon. CHARLES PELHAM VILLIERS
brings very forcibly to our recollection the inconsis-
tency with which the tokens of popular gratitude are
invariably distributed. Invariably distributed, we
mean, on those exceedingly unusual and intermittent
occasions when any sentiment at all approaching to
that of gratitude is evinced by the multitude; for it
has long since become proverbial that the labours of
patriotism are, of all the toils that can be adventured
upon by humanity, the most severe and
the most thankless. Among the most illus-

trious victims of misfortune whose vicissitudes
have been recounted by the annalist and the biogra-
pher, the most numerous and melancholy catalogue is
that of the martyrs of civism. Same of these august
unfortunates have been beheaded and others have
been ostracised, some have been subjected to
prolonged incarceration and others have been
torn to pieces by the rabble, some have
been ruthlessly burnt at the stake and
others have been executed on the guillotine. Hap-
pily for modern statesmanship the evidences of popu-
lar ingratitude, though still as frequent as heretofore,
are marvellously abated in their ferocity—so that the
more adventurous politicians may dare to aspire to
the seals and the red boxes of administration without
the ultimate alternative of falling under the authority
either of the turnkey or the headsman. F, however,
the people have become less sanguinary in their exhi-
bitions oi.forgetfulness, they have at the same time al-
lowed their judgment to be more and more darkened by
suspicion, and less and less capable of an exalted dis-
crimination. Hence it comes to pass that now-a-days,
instead of witnessing the decapitation of those who
have the most conspicuously advocated the rights and
struggled for the benefactions of the community, we
are compelled to see those noblest among our fellow-
countrymen passed over with the most contemptuous
indifference, or neglected by the multitude they have
served at the very moment when that multitude is
squandering its aural plaudits and pecuniary' testimo_
nials upon some lucky pretender to approbation.
Never, possibly, was this injustice of the popular
voice more glaringly exhibited than in reference to
those orators whose exertions had been variously in-
strumental in abrogating the atrocious laws by which
taxes were imposed on the first necessary of exist-
ence. While the latest advocates of the Free-trade
doctrines were lauded to the very echo, those gifted
and consistent antagonists of Protection, who had
toiled without interruption during many long years
to emancipate the commerce of England, and who
had never shrunk from declaring themselves Free-
traders when to be a Free-trader was to be an object
for universal scorn and vituperation, were altogether

unnoticed and forgotten. Three men especially, ont
of that glorious phalanx of our representativeF, were
passed by as though they were labourers of no impor-
tance, or of ordinary reputation—and to each of these
men the people of England were more, infinitely more
indebted, for the victory they had just obtained over
the monopolists than to all the rest of the opponents of
agricultural protection put together. Any one at all
acquainted with the merest outline of the political or
Parliamentary history of Great Britain during the
last quarter of a century will at once recognise that
these three most illustrious among the whole body of
Free-traders were none other than—.
CHARLES VILLIERS,
PERRONET THOMPSON, and

EBENEZER ELLIOTT.
To the unflinching resolution, the untiring assi-
duity, the continuous exertions, and the splendid abili-
ties of these redoubtable antagonists of monopoly the
nation owed her first meed of gratitude when the ex •
ecrable imposts upon corn were at length abrogated•
True, doubtless there was much, very much; due to the
magnanimity of that distinguished statesman who sa-
crificed his influence over a gigantic fiction, who re-
signed the supreme power hitherto exercised by him
over the Parliament, and who voluntarily retreated
from the highest office of authority in the country,
that cf Prime Minister of England, for the purpose of
paying his allegiance to the sway of Truth, and of
testifying his loyalty to, the cause of experience.
True, again, there was much, very much, due to those
fluent and persuasive rhetoricians who, during the
last years of that prolonged and memorable
agitatio❑ blended their voices with those of their elo-
quent and veteran predecessors—but to the three
patriotic and remarkable men we have already men-
tioned was owing, above all and beyond all, the
gratitude of the population. Oa their heads
the applause and the testimonials of the British
people should have been first squandered, and not
upon those who had scarcely learnt their political
alphabet, when the fame of these three fellow-
labourers had long since ripened into a wide and
more than national. reputation. Yet among all the
advocates of the Free-trade principles, among all the
exponents of the Free-trade doctrines, they have
been the least remembered, their noble labours
have been the least eulogised, their self-sacrificing
exertions have been the least appreciated. We are
deeply moved with a mingled sentiment of shame
and indignation whenever we call this fact to recol-
lection ; for the circumstance is as disgraceful to
the people as it is consistent with all the records of
public ingratitude.
How far the cause of the Free-traders is really in-
debted to CHARLES VILLIERS may surely be very
readily estimated by all those acquainted with his re-
iterated opposition to agricultural monopoly in the
Commons House of Parliament. How far the same
cause is bound by the ties of thankfulness to PER-
BONET THOMPSON may be conceived by all those who
are familiar with his shrewd, witty, searching, and
_altogether unanswerable Catechisms. How far, again,
the enemies of Protection are required to express their
debt of gratitude to EBENEZER ELLIOTT must be
sufficiently manifest to every individual alive to the
terse logic and poetical enthusiasm which character-
ized the effusions of the Corn-law Rhymer. Alas !
that we should have reason to lament the decease of
that gifted child of Genius before his fellow-English-
men had duly recognised his eminent and unfading
services. The .bard of the Free-trade principles—
the songster whose verse had effected as much in the
way of advancing the arguments brought to bear
against the monopolists as CHARLES DIBDIN'S
nautical ballads had been instrumental in kindling
and sustaining the fire of patriotism in the Royal
Navy of England—has, within the last few weeks,
passed from. among us prematurely for the national
gratitude, though far from prematurely for his own
reputation. Doubly thankful, therefore, ought the
people of this country to be at the survival of the
two most remarkable among his illustrious fellow-
labourers. Those two distinguished men are still for-
tunately among us, capable of withstanding the indiffer-
ence of their contemporaries, and of still toiling on, ear-
nestly and honestly, in the service of an unjust and
thankless gencration. By the more retentive memories
of the few, at least, it will not have been forgotten that
from the intellect of PERRONET THOMPSON emanated
those caustic and sarcastic arguments in favour of
Free-trade which had all the force of the pamphlets

of SIETE3, and all the inspiring ardour of the
brochures of DESMOULINS. Nor are we rash in as-
serting that his " Corn-law Catechisms" advanced
the cause of the great Commercial Revolution in
England quite as much and as perceptibly as the cause
of the great political revolution in France was developed
by the " TiersEtat" and the "Vieux Cordeliers."
Bayond, however, even the Rhymes of ELLIOTT and
the Catechisms of THOMPSON, the speeches and
motions of VILLIERS in the British House of Com-
mons, during many years prior even to the formation
of the League, are entitled to popular remembrance
and national approbation. As far, nevertheless, as
the evidences of that approbation may be regarded
as affording a sufficient token, that remembrance ap-
pears to have entirely evaporated. Hence, therefore,

is that while the multitude has contrived to show

itself so signally ungrateful and so conspicuously for-
getful, we are peculiarly rejoiced to see some slight
show of regard towards a national benefactor like the
Hon. CHARLES PELHAM Vl'damn on the part of the.
British Government. Even the faintest mark of
honour towards one so monstrously overlooked by the
people he has served so consistently, is to us a sub-
ject of profound satisfaction, and a reason for ex-
citing our warmest sympathies towards the Adminis-
tration.

On Saturday, we pointed out that the new
Russian loan which had found such favour in the
sight of the Christian capitalists of the Stock
Exchange—that (according to the great organ of the
moneyocracy) "the transaction was effectually com-
pleted within a few hours of its announcement," the
contractors having been embarrassed by applications
for at least twice the amount of the loan they had to
dispose of—was based upon fraud and falsehood, such
as would stamp the character of any private indivi-
dual who was concerned in a matter so questionable
with the deepest disgrace and infamy. Our opi-
nions of the " immorality" of the entire transactions
are already recorded in the most distinct and explicit
terms. The person who now strengthens the hands
of the Russian AUTOCRAT, to enable him to retrieve
his position, to replenish the exchequer which had
been exhausted by his most wanton invasion of
Hungary, and sanguinary and ferocious onslaught
on the gallant Magyars, and to carry out
his iniquitous projects against the integrity
of the Ottoman empire, must be prepared
to avow himself an approver cf the actions and a par-
ticipator in the designs of the Imperial despot. It
is vain to say that the parties who provide the means
cannot be considered in any degree accountable for
tha purposes to which their funds may be applied—
that the only points in which they are really concerned
are, the sufficiency of the proposed security and the
remunerative character of the interest to be received.
If such reasoning were allowed there is no specula
tion, however infamous, that would not be tolerated—
in the end large and inordinate profits would indeed
sanction the means that might be resorted to. Tne
establishment of gambling-houses or brothels would
be regarded as a legitimate operation, the pecuniary
gain to the speculators being more than an equiva-
lent for the misery and destruction in which the
wretched victims of their vile cupidity would be
involved.

" Non olet nummus," however, appears to be the
maxim of the money-dealers. " Make money,
honestly and honourably if possible, but, at all
events, make money," is the ru'e most implicitly'
and religiously obeyed in the precincts of Capel-
court and ( f Lombard-street. Torrents of the most
brilliant and impassioned eloquence, in rel*tion to
the impropriety of the taxation, might be poured
forth for hours without exciting the attention of
the money lords, or arousing them from their.
apathy. In tbat respect they are like the " desf
adders, who heard not the voice of the charmer
charm he never so wisely." But if a hint be dropped
as to the defective nature of the proposed security,
the possibility of ultimate loss, and of their
calculations proving inaccurate, then, indeed,
an anxious and attentive auditory v♦ ill
be obtained, and every word will be
listened to with the most profound solicitude. We
must, therefore, endeavour to show that there is not
that clear and absolute certainty of profit, of

punctual payment of dividends, and of high quota-
tions, and ready purchasers for the stock whenever
it might suit the purposes of the holders to send it
into the market for disposal.
We have already alluded to the suspicions that
must naturally be entertained from the gross, pal-
pable, and disgraceful falsehood put forward by the
CZAR with respect to the alleged object for which the
money is to be raised. We also noticed the

curious fact., that under the ukase of the 31st March
1847, the Esirnuoit is the holder of British Govern.
ment Securities to the amount of 4,600,000 i

sterling, in addition to the 2,000,0001. sterling
invested in the purchase of French Rentes in the
course of the preceding year. The sale of these
securities would be more than sufficient to provide
for his present exigencies, and if his intentions were
straightforward and honourable, why should he not
avail himself of these resources, and not submit
to a considerable annual loss in the differ-
ence of interest receivable on the money
lent, and payable on the money borrowed ?
What would a Commissioner of the Bankrupt or In-
solvent Court say to a trader, who came before him,
accounting for his unfortunate position by the fact
that he had lent money at a lower rate than he ob-
tained it, or habitually sold the goods, which he
obtained from his too confiding creditors, at less than
first cost prices ? Would not the humiliating confes-
fession carry with it the condemnation of the delin-
quent? Would not protection be refused, and the
party sent to expiate his commercial improprieties
by a long imprisonment ? Most unquestionably
se. The very nature of the dealings would
prove that fraud must have been contemplated
from the very beginning, that the debts were con-
tracted without any bona fide intention of payment.
In what, then, does the conduct of NICHOLAS differ
from that of the fraudulent dealer ? How can it be
justified or defended ? And does it not, to say the
least of it, cast a grave suspicion about the entire
transaction, that should deter prudent men from
meddling therewith ?
Again, let those who are about to advance their
money consider what will be the probable results of
any menacing indications in the political ho-
rizon. At what price will the new stock
be quoted if Russia should become involved
in hostilities with any of her neighbours, more es-
pecially if England should take any part in the quar-
rel? Would not the payment of all dividends be
suspended ? What goods or bullion would be trans-
mitted from the Russian ports to satisfy the demands
of the creditors ? They would, when too late, bitterly
lament their strange infatuation. The principal could
not be sold at any price, the interest would be with-
held, and the ruined dupes, cast down from their
palmy and prosperous condition, would at length dis-
cover that honour and honesty were indeed the best
policy.
Are these contingencies then so improbable that
they should wholly be omitted from the calculation ?
Are the hereditary traditions of the Russian dynasty,
with respect to Constantinople, already forgotten ?
Does the Cz.ua consider the Anglo-Indian empire
without a feeling of envy ? Or is there no probabi-
lity of a rupture arising with any of the European
powers from the innumerable causes of war always
in existence? We emphatically warn those who
might be tempted to invest their property in the new
stock of the dangers and casualties to which they will
be exposed, and which will ultimately bring down a
well-merited punishmert upon those who are only
moved by the auri sacra fames, whose only incentive
is the wicked thirst for gain.

We have much pleasure in calling attention to the
report in this paper of the ninth annual meeting of the
Provident Clerks' Association. The unanimity which
prevailed must have been exceedingly gratifying to
the Board ; and their perseverance in declining to
receive an addition to their remuneration cf last year
procured for them the hearty applause of the members
present. We have always taken a warm intere4 in
this Association, and congratulate all concerned on
the marked increase in the business of the past year.

We have reason to believe that the auspicious event
which we me:,ti.i.l,--IyeterdiA- lilie;y to ire
the number of the Royal Family may be expected
about the middle of April next..

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
In the Gazette des Tribunaux, of Sunday, there ap-
peared an account of a Socialist conspiracy to assassinate
the PRESIDENT. That journal said " that one of the
recently liberated insurgents of June, 1848, who was
arrested two days ago on a charge of embezLle:nent,
has confessed to a conspiracy among the liberated
insurgents to assassinate the PRESIDENT of the Re-
public. They cast lots who should be the first to
make the attempt, and it fell upon the person
who now confesses. On the 24th December
he went to the Italian Theatre to execute the
project, but fortunately the PRESIDENT did not
attend. The prisoner has given information as
to his accomplices, eleven of whom are arrested."
Such was the statement by which Paris was fright-
ened from its propriety on Sunday ; but when Mon-
day came the -good Parisians discovered that the
whole was a fabrication of the " honest and mode-

rate" party, which acknowledges as its leaders M. DE
MONTA.LEMBERT the Jesuit, and M. Tosses the

Voltaireian.
All the journals of Monday contain the following
official communication from the Prefecture of the

Police :
" The Gazette des Tribunaux contains a note, alto-
gether erroneous, relative to a person named W--,
one cf the insurgents not long since pardoned, and who,
that journal states, formed part of a plot discovered by
the police, and in consequence of which eleven persons
were arrested. however dramatic may be the details
given in the account aqued to, they contain nothing true
either in fact or form."
General CLIANGARNIER reviewed four battalions of
the Republican Guard on Sunday, in the square of
the Louvre.
The Napoleon publishes the ',following explanation
of the cause of the visit of General MAGNAN to
Paris :
"It is usual after the inspections that each general
officer charged with that annual
„mission should come to
Paris to confer with the Minister of War, and to settle
the table of promotions in the army. General Magnan
has ;accordingly arrived, like most of his coils a ;nes.
Immediately, and without further information, the
Evesemert, the Assemblee Nationale, and the Liberte,
hart'n to attach a pol tical meaning to that journey, and
announce boldly that it has reference to a grave mea-
sure--the removal of General Changarnier. The 510
niteur has contradicted this ridiculous announcement."

In the same journal we find the following com-
ments on the ridiculous rumours of contemplated
coups tr etat, to which the red and white coalition have
given such active circulation during the course of the

last few weeks :
" LES COUPS D'ETAT.—For the last year one or twice
a month insurrections are got up in cold blood against
pretended prejects of a coup d'etqt with which the diffe-
rent shades of public opinion are being unceasiegiy
a:errnei. These periodical alarms, got up against the
Government for the profit cf certain men and of cer-
tain ideas, have a purpose which it is not difficult to
divine ; riot and insurrection have need of pretext';;
and as it is impossible to tire out the moderation of
the President, they seek to irritate parties, and to in-
flame their passions. L. tus be allowed to quit fictions,
and to say the whole truth. Wo appeal to all honest
hearts, and to all upright minds. Is there a man
uho, being placed in the same position as Louis
Napoleon, would have acted with more prudence and
mo.le3ty? Is there a political chief whose head bee
heel su litt'e effect ,d by homage, ovations, and pee er?
Does one think that the President did net know what
the pc asantry who elected him said, and who en-
couraged him with their cries to declare himself
maeter, and to overturn tl'e order t f existing things ?
Is it imagined that he was ignorant still more of
the wishes f the army ? Recall to mind the ovations
of which he was the object in his excursions through
the depa,-tmente Wo appeal to all the ocular witnesses.
Although Louis Napoleon bad not gained any battles he
was everywhere received as a liberator. Henry IV.
coming to pacify France, Napoleon, after Austerlitz tied
Jena, ware not received with louder or more enthusiastic
acclamations, than was Louis Napoleon at Amiens,
at Noyon, at Tours, at Epernay, at Sens, end at
Troyes. Let one recollect, moreover, how great was, on
all solemn occasions, the cortliality of the people of
Paris, and the sympathy of the army. Well. we say
without any fear that we shall be accused of flattery,
few characters would have been sufficiently strong',
sufficiently tempered, ric t to have LO2ll intoxicated, dt z-
zled at least, by so many striking marks of homage.
Louis Napoleon, he must be done that just.ce to, was
rendered more confused than proud; he did not consider
himself to have as yet merited them.
" If the President had ever thought of making a coup
d'etat, what more favourable occasions than the 10th
December, the 29th January, and the 13th of June ?
On ore side, the acclamations of the people, and the
dangers which society had run; on the other hatred,
disloyal attacks, calumny, heaped without ceasing on that
nephew of the Emperor; all favoured the highest pre ten-
sions—all would have then seemed just and legitimate.
Nevertheless, what have we seen? The President, faithful
to his systera of prudence and moderation, has resisted
the etrainement of his partisans as the hatred of his
adversaries. He neither wished to triumph with the one
nor to avenge himself on the ether. He has thought it
wiser and more worthy of himself t study conscien-
tiously the wishes and desires of the country. Certain
cf his own intentions, he is nevertheless modestly die-
trustful of himself. He has allowed the skilful to govern,
awaiting, from experience and from time, the free
exercise of the power which each fine had been so de-
sirous cf placing in his hands. And it is when so many
laws speak in favour of Louis Napoleon, that they are
indirectly exciting against the power which he holds
from universal suffrage all the inimical passions, all the
prejudices of parties, ail the calumnies cf factions! What
is asked of the President of the Republic? Protesta-
tions—oaths. The examples which he has given far
the last year are worth more than all protestations—
than a 1 oaths. Let them cease to incriminate his in-
tentions in the guilty hope of bringing about a new
crisis. Even although a Constitation that is perfectible
in its nature does not demand a blind respect, nobody
respects the Constitution more scrupulously, and the
elect
im
ep. fos
isg universal
o n
others
tshueffrrsa suffrage
ahas
which
he right
emapnod_ e hoen powerhi-
self. Let it not be said that it is his right to make the
will of the nation prevail."
In the course of an article headed " Par quoi et par
qui," the Napoleon thus explains a passage in its
first number, which had given great offence to the ma-
jority of the Assembly. It says—
" It was not our intention to attack any one in our first
two numbers; we only wished to state facts. On the
correctness of the premises depends always tht solution
of a problem. We did not advise the President of the
Republic to disdain all the ancient parties, and not to
account for his conduct to any one but himself; we
merely endeavoured to demonstrate, by the evidence of
the past, that he had an intrinsic strength which he did
not owe to any of them. We stated that if he had
shown himself conciliating, and even desirous to
anticipate the wishes of all those who had been hos-
tile to him, it was not from weakness he did
so, hut because his reason ltd him to do it;
and on the other hand, if he vindicated his rights,
it was not from pride, but from the appreciation
of the duties of his mission. The governments which
have only a borrowed force pay court to all parties, to
betray them afterwards. Those which are conscious of
their strength, seek them (the parties), in order to unite
with them and to get them to join in the public good.
Neither was it our intention to have it understood as
our opinion that the President ought to dispense with
the Assembly, nor did we wish to depreciate that body
in the public opinion; what we did was, to state and to
establish clearly, th,t the execu ive power, which, for
tour years at least, represents a regular system and
spirit (en .cysteme fit us esprit de suite), ought to enjoy
freely clear and well-defined prerogatives. These are
frets and principles which are assuredly subjects of con-
troversy; but no one can see in theta an attack on the
dignity of the Assembly, nor a wish to retrench upon
legitimate rights."
On the 17th a number of steam-vessels arrived at
Toulon from Civita Vecchia, bringing with them
portions of the troops from Rome. The officers and
men expressed great delight at being relieved from a
very disagreeable service.
PARIS BOURSE, JAN. 21.—CLOSING PRICES,

Rentes, Five per Cents., 94f. 25c. ; Three per Cents.,
57f 50c. ; Bank of France, 2,360 f.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE

LONDON STOCK7F.XCHANGE. J.N. 21.

Boulogne and Amiens, 7%—Central of France (Orleans
and Vierzon), 123/4 ex in.—Dutch Rhenish, 214—East
Indian, 41,4—Northern of France, 178 die. ex in.—Orleans
and Bourdeaux, 33/4 Paris and Rouen, 23 Paris and
Strasbourg, 61/B Rouen and Havre, 93/4—Sambre and
Meuse, 3%.