The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-02 00:00:00

THE SUN,

could have been effected in months, under ordinary
circumstances. _ .

Earnestly de we trust that no diminution of the
energy already displayed may creep in, so that, be-
fore the close of 1850, the principal part of the work
will have been perfected. By this means, and by this
means alone, will the Commissioners be enabled to de-
velope to their full extent the projects connected with
the Exhibition in all its different departments. Act-
ing otherwise they will find their labours lapsing into
a deplorable and inextricable confusion. What under
the present system of management is simple and com-
prehensible enough would speedily become a maze of
difficulties, baffling all efforts at their disentangle-
ment. The reasonableness of our opinions in this
regard must be at once apparent, when it
is only borne in mind that to the
novelty of the entire enterprise must be added its
intricacy and its magnitude. It must be remem-
bered, for example, that the scheme necessitates in
the first place negotiation, more or less direct, with
all the nations and governments of the habitable
globe, in the east and in the west, in the north and in
the south, in the tropic of Cancer and in the tropic of
Capricorn. Out of this labyrinth of corre-
spondence, the only means of facile extrica-
tion is discoverable in regularity and promptitude.
Upon the union of these two qualities in the
supervision of their arrangements, her AIAJESTY'S
Commissioners have resolved at all cost of time,
labour, attention, and convenience. That in fact is
the secret of the success which has hitherto attended
, their exertions. They have allowed no obstructions
to accumulate ; but have reaped them down as they
have arisen. The reward of this judicious vigour is
visible in the forward state of the preparations. No
other stimulus, we are convinced, is henceforth in
any way requisite. A knowledge that the regard
of all their countrymen is concentrated just now
upon their efforts, and that their movements are
also, in a greater or less degree, subjects of interest
and speculation to the peoples of the four continents,
must prevent the Commissioners from relaxing iu
an
activity hitherto so viib!y advantageous, and from
this time forth, until the end of their labours, more
than ever necessary to the completion of the under-
taking. One consideration is fortunately apparent to
themselves, and to the rest of the community—
namely, that from a sense of what has already been
effected there can no longer be any dotabt that the
enterprise w ill be prosperously conducted to a con-
clusion.

In the recent impressions of this journal we devoted
considerable space to the consideration of subjects
affecting the moral, social, and intellectual condition
of the Irish people. We gave expression to our feel-
ings of deep condemnation of those bigotted reli-
gionists—vvbetber of England or of Rome—who
wculd perpetuate that system of sectarian excluzl,:e-
ness which all good and wise men pint to as the
chief cause of Ireland's wretchedness. After cen-
turhs of barbarism, ignorance, and misrule, Go-
vernment has placed within the reach of all
classes in I►eland the means of education bated upon
_ .

principles calculated to prolluce social results of in-
calculable good ; and we trust the people of that
country will not be deterred from the full enjoyment
of such a salutary boon; we trust that the educated
Catholic, the liberal and enlightened Protestant, the
patriotic and intelligent Presbyterian will form a united
and determined phalanx to oppose any malignant
influence that may be interposed to prevent the youth
of Ireland from enjoying the kindly intercourse of
literary communion. We trust the middle classes in
Ireland, of all religious denominations, will stand by
and support their educational institutions—their
national schools and colleges, despite of every mis-
chievous opposition, proceed from what source it
may, whether from the Roman Propaganda, the
Synod of Thurles, or the silly declaimers of. Exeter-hall.
We turn fur the present from this important sub-
ject of national education to one of no less moment,
the physical wants and resources of Ireland; for
the people must be fed as well as educated. We
have been led to the consideration of this
subject by seeing the triumphant results of
Vett
Mr. OWENES experiments on Iri . It will doubt-
less be in the recollection of o readers that at the
close of the Parliamentary sea on of 1849 it was
announced in the House of Commons, on the autho-
rity of Lord ASIILEY, that Irish peat was convertible
into what then seemed to the uninitiated very extra-
ordinary products, and which would produce to the
adventurous speculator large if not enormous profits.
It was asserted to be proved by actual experiment
that Irish peat was convertible into sulphate of am-
monia, acetate of lime, naptlaa, paraffin?, volatile and
fixed oils. Yet, though Lord ASHLEY'S honour and
veracity were beyond doubt, though Mr. OWEN'S
respectability was unimpeachable, and notwithstand-
ing that the Honourable Member for Ennis at-
tempted to illuminate the dark infidelity of the House
by the light of a candle, the materials for which, he
assured Honourable Members, were extracted from
the bog peat of his native land, still the smile of in-
credulity might be seen en many a senator's counte-
nance, and Mr. OWEN'S project was looked on as the
hallucination of a benevolent minded gentleman; out-
side the House of Commons scepticism and want of
faith very generally prevailed, and the columns of
most of our contemporaries teemed with a great deal
of doubt, mingled with somewhat of the ridiculou's, at
the Lotion that the Irish bogs could be converted
into commodities of such commercial importance and