The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-18 00:00:00

aloof, and by the contagion of his example
compelled the other powers of the earth to
display a similar magnanimity. Hence the last trick
of the Royalist Reactionaries. Hence that recall of
the French Ambassador, which has involved the
Prince Louis NAPOLEON for the moment in a most
perillous deception, and which has also provoked anew
the hatred of a miserable faction against Viscount
PALMERSTON.

The Bill for the abolition of the Lord-Lieutenancy
of Ireland, and the establishment of a fourth Secre-
taryship of State, has at length been brought for-
ward. Never were there more satisfactory reasons
for any great change than those adduced by the
Premier in the course of his very able and convinc-
ing speech. He clearly and distinctly explained the
evils inseparable from the present system, and showed
that the alteration was essential not only to the
efficient administration of affairs, and good govern-
ment of Ireland, but also to the welfare and prosperity
of the United Kingdom. The mischiefs arising from
a divided administration are, indeed, so obvious to
any unprejudiced observer, that the only wonder is
that a matter which has been in contemplation for
many years should have been so long postponed. It
was seriously considered at the time of the Union,

and although certain circumstances induced the then
KING to throw his personal weight into the scale,
and to recommend the continuance of the office, his
MAJESTY at the same time expressed his opinion that
it should, at some future period, be abolished.

GEORGE the THIRD desired that it should be filled with
a person who should clearly understand that the Union
had closed the reign of "Irish jobs," and that the
civil patronage might be open to his recommendation,
but should be entirely decided in England. Bat how
was that wish carried out ? It is, unfortunately, but
too notorious that the most flagrant corruption and
jobbery prevailed in the purlieus of the Castle. Party
feeling was encouraged;. hatred and animosity was
excited among those of different creeds, agitation
became a regular occupation—and why ? Be-

cause the violent partizan alone could hope

to secure the loaves and fishes for himself
and his immediate followers. Place-hunting was the
general pursuit, which was carried on with a degree
of zeal and energy worthy of a better cause.
The Viceroy could not venture to act with fairness
and impartiality. He was obliged to rule " through a
party and for a party.", He thus secured the good-
will and support of at least a section of the community,
which he could only retain by shutting his eyes to
the abuses by which he was surrounded. He was
then lauded as a demi-god, or reviled as a de-
mon incarnate, according to the feelings and
prepossessions of those by whom his conduct
was canvassed. If for a moment he endeavoured to
hold the reins of power with an equal and indifferent

hand, to administer justice to all without distinction,
former opponents for once became united, and relin-

quished their own dissensions in order to overwhelm
the erring Viceroy, who had the folly to suppose that
he could hold himself aloof from petty intrigues or

sectarian disputes. Witness the treatment of Lord
WELLESLEY, who first refused to worship the
Orange faction, or to bow down before the idol

of " Protestant ascendancy in Church and State."
Consider the insults to which Lord ANGLESEY, once
" the beloved," but subsequently the " Algerine,"
was exposed. Look, again, to the virulent abuse
lavished on his successors—on HADDINGTON, " the
partizan"—on NORMANDY, the " gaol deliverer"—
on Da GREY and HEYTESBURY—even on BES 110•
ROUGH, the Irish Lord-Lieutenant—and even on
CLARENDON, whose dignified impartiality, and mild
and conciliating, but firm and vigorous administration,
cast a halo round the office that will long be re-
membered.

liven before the distinguished nobleman last
referred to was appointed, the abolition of the
office had been definitively arranged. He was
distinctly informed that such a measure was
decided on; and that all that remained for con-
sideration was the most fitting opportunity for
carrying the Ministerial intentions into execution.
The unfortunate condition of the country, the distress
and destitution that prevailed on every' side, the pes-
tilence and famine under which the great majority
of the people were suffering, and the political excite-
ment that led even to an outbreak, which was, how-

ever, promptly suppressed without bloodshed in the

field or on the scaffold, retarded the matter; but the
period has at length arrived, and we may now look for-
ward to seeing Ireland an integral portion of the
British empire, and her children entitled to all the
rights and privileges belonging to their English fel-
low-subjects.

We have already fully pointed out that the
increased facilities of travelling by land and
by water, and the certainty and speed with which
intelligence can be communicated between England
and Ireland, have removed every pretext for the con-

tinuance of the office. In point of time and distance,
Ireland is now actually nearer than al-
most any part .of Scotland;. nay, it is closer
than. Devonshire or Yorkshire was thirty years
since. The journey from London to Dublin, or'
vice versa, may be performed with ease, in twelve
hours. In cases of urgency, a communication may
be received by means of the electric telegraph in four
hours, and full instructions returned with equal speed.
What reason can there be, then, for maintaining an
office which could only be required under totally diffe-
rent circumstances—the relic of bygone ages ?
One intimation that fell from Lord dolor Mil.

SELL should render even the Dublin shopkeepers de-
lighted with the change. They are, it appears, to
have the substance in place of the shadow, the reality
in place of the phantom. He stated that, " without
being able to name any particular times at which her
MAJESTY would visit Ireland, it is her gracious
intention, from time to time, to pay a visit to Ireland,
and to have the residence in the Phcenix-park main-
tained for her own use." This is as it should be ; it
will str.engthen the feelings of affectionate regard and
devoted loyalty that should ever be maintained be-
tween the MONARCH and her people. It will indeed
be far more than a recompense for the annihilation of
the " mock court," for the loss of which the Dublin
tradesmen are now indignant.'

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
It is said by the Legitimatist Union, that Gene-
ral' LAHITTE, recalled the French Ambassador from
London without consulting the PRESIDENT of the
Republic, who, on being informed, on his return
from Fontainbleau, of what had taken place, ex-
pressed himself as dissatisfied and vexed. General
LAHITTE is a Legitimatist, and in this instance he has
betrayed the Pauli:mu; in order to forward his
Legitimatist views. .
A messenger was dispatched to St. Petersburg')
yesterday, and orders were sent . to the dockyards
to fit out several ships of war and
,to make extraordi-
nary levies of seamen.
General CA.YAIGNAC and his friends opposed the
motion- far printing the papers on the Greek question.
They are opposed to the rupture of the English
alliance as are all the friends of liberty in France.
The National says, that all the pretended suscepti-
bility of, General LAHITTE and the reactionaries on
this subject is " got up" to cover an intrigue having
in view two objects. First, to enable the Orleans
ty to gratify
Whig
Ministry t
par their revenge on Lord PALMERSTON 9
and,sitfry in
possEibnleg,latondrabnstdi,tusetecoandTlyor, Tory
breakfor u
a
alliance between France and the only consti-
tutional country in Europe, in order to
force
Courts hero Russia,
a an
and alliancethus
t
o
between the French Republic and the Monarchies
of the' Continent. This is the true object of what the
National calls " the comedy of honour," the prologue
withestab establish a
of which was performed in the National Assembly
on Thursday.
The speech of . General •LAIIITTB does not ap-
pear in the Moniteur of yesterday, and it was
said it had been suppressed by order of the PRESI-
DENT of the Republic. General LAHITTE yesterday
said in the Assembly that its suppression was
a mistake, but that it should appear in a sup-
plement.
All the English in Paris have refused the invi-
tations
which they had received to attend the parties
at the Elysee.
The Presse, after having stated that but for Eng-
land there would have been an immediate invasion of
France by ,the Absolutist Powers in 1848, thus
proceeds to bear testimony to the good faith which
England has ever since observed. It says
" From that • time, whether with regard to Italy or
the afLirs of Germany, the English Cabinet never gave
us a single cause of complaint. On the contrary, it
showed itself fall of benevolence and good faith towards
the new Republic. It sought to simplify difficulties
standing in our way, instead of aggravating them ; it