The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-06 00:00:00

UNITED SERVICE JOURNAL.

Among the most interesting papers in the present
ISTtpnber, we rniv single out the one entitled the
Naval Chaplains Note-book," which is penned in a
light, gossipping spirit, and contains some anecdotes
olthe once-celebrated Lady Hester Stanhope, and also
of the Greek beauty whom Lord Byron has immor-
talised under the title of the " Maid of Athens."
Of this young girl, we are told that " her height was
moderate, and in person she was somewhat slender.
Her rich dark hair was formed into a graceful ringlet
on the crown of her head; her complexion was that
of a brunette, and her dark umber eyes retained the im-
pressive wildness ascribed to them in the noble poet's
°de." Of the remaining articles, the beiit is the " Glance
at the Approaching Session," in which there are one or
two useful suggestions on naval and military matters.

COLONIAL MAGAZINES.
Two monthly periodicals, both devoted to the con-
ideration of Colonial topics, are now lying before us,
he one published by Simmons, and the other by
Fisher. Each displays nearly equal care and skill in
the getting up, and, in their remarks on our different
Colonies, adopts a temperate and rational tone, steering
clear of party spirit or exaggeration.

CHURCHMAN'S MONTHLY RE VIE W.
This periodical is a decided opponent of the Tree-
tarian tenets, for, in a notice of the Rev. Mr. Close's
recent work, under the title of the " Restoration of
Churches is the Restoration of Popery," we find the
Reviewer observing that the Tractarians, " in what
has recently issued from their press, have committed
themselves to Popery in its whole length and breadth."
The review is cleverly written, and is by no means
deficient in spirit.

RAILWAY REGISTER.
•
The Editor of this Magazine is a gentleman named
Clarice, who, so far as we can augur from a first
cumber, bids fair to acquit himself of the task of
superintendence with great skill and judgment. The
Work, as may be surmised, is wholly of a practical
character, professing to be a monthly record of
aengipeering and public enterprise, for railways,
Canals, harbours, docks, mines, steam navigation,
Patehts, inventions, &c: The present Number is em-
bellished with a curious sketch of a newly-invented
life- boat ; and contains, among other articles of in•
formation, an ingenious essay on the popular subject
of railway extension.

THE FORTY-SHILLING FREE-
HOLDERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
toi et ciel t'aidera is an adage with our
neighbours, although we need not travel so fur in search
of its verification. A conviction of the truth of the
I_iliduge seems to be operating on the minds of a very
""'fie portion of the industrious and provident classes of
this country. Deeply imbued with a conviction of the
necessity of the abolition of our restrictive commercial
Cud; the question with them has been, Who is to lead the
forlorn hope?—for it appeared as doubtful in its result
64 it was desperate as an enterprise. Where was there
11 breach in the massive and apparently impregnable
fortifications of feudalism and monopoly? Its ramparts
Could not be scaled without an apparatus too costly to
"limey thither a sufficient numerical strength to cope
*Pith and to defeat the defenders of selfish monopoly,
and to expel the aristocratic exclusives from the citadel
of 'our Constitution. With many the belief was strong
that one who had attained to command among the mo-
bopolists would turn traitor to his professions, seeing
that his origin was from among those who were ex-
'eluded and oppressed, and in whom he had sedulously
laatilled a belief that he pitied their condition, and
*mild relieve them to the utmost of his power ; but
shoe who knew his deceptive character affirmed that his
3t was to postpone the attack, for that he was afraid
am his partisans would turn traitors to him and deliver
Gls post up to his opponents. It was between these op-
route opinions that the mind of the country oscillated.
•lteeonnoitring parties frequently made observations, and
„,i'buoy were the schemes submitted to public considers-
m°ll, not one of which was practicable. It remained for
the active and practical mind of Cobden to conce:ve the
Van fur his clear and comprehensive judgment to cense-
adate the requisite power, and for his cool intrepidity to
L_dutd and guide the impetuosity of the attack on that
reach which his keen eye alone had discerned. His
Wand raised the standard of " The Patriotic Forty-shilling
'retholders," to which hundreds have flocked, while
thousands more are anxious to enlist ; and it is to faci-
litate the attainment of this object that I have presumed
° trespass on your attention. It is evident that in-
"4vidual exertion eannot accomplish it, but that com-
bLination and confidence is necessary to success, as free-
"old property in the environs of London is seldom to be
turehased for less than 7001., and all small freeholds
.ketett more than their relative value, being eagerly pur-
-7."aBc, ed for the sake of the perpetuity.
some amount of capital is requisite for the purchase of
property by a confidential party, and public opinion un-
Nueetionably selects the Anti-Corn-law League as the
Itgent in whom truth and confidence might safely be re-
tred• The actual amount of capital so employed need
comparatively small, provided the principle of a de-
Pcmit bank were adopted. Suppose that land of the
it4itte of 2,0001. or 3,0001. were purchased and divided
tad portions of the value of 40s. a year, when deposits
®fight be required of such individual amount as would
deuxburse the League for the original outlay upon which
session
might be prepared—for which an Act passed last
,'vssion gives great facilities—and delivered to the
ZPositers for qualification and security, the parties
Zetnselves having no real connexion with the property
~e_';eh might be let to some member of the Council and
tr,let in allotments, or entire, the depositors receiving
'Will the secretary only their 40s. a year. To accorn-
4uate the system to the means of the necessitous of the
til ustrious classes, which ought to be a primary object in
I,:.lconsolidation of the system, depositors, upon giving
tiii;ee to the secretary, and at the expiration of a certain
tizti Should receive their deposit, the League substi-
s,hig another member desirous ol becoming an elector,
11" ,e 4 Would greatly facilitate the registration of voters
itn
the accommodation of depositors in case of ne•
:eel; this plan adopted, thousands might become pos-
taosed of the franchise, who otherwise, could never ob-
,„`ll.that privilege ; while others of larger capital could
tiZ,lf for the four metropolitan counties. But to make
11,.1 Plan entirely successful, the power to withdraw is
tit'onecessary. Calamity might overtake a small depo-
deal., and it is with that class the League will have to
jut When his small capital would become of the highest
kkirtance to him.
According to the success which may attend the
tioogflle Registration, so will be the measure of opposi-
s rern the supporters of monopoly.
° Ping as the present system of registration worked
10,the exclusive advantage of the protected classes, so
atn would the supporters of monopoly be its most
Biel
upholders ; but as soon as they discover that
~iici;t9 be turned to their absolute annihilation, no effort
pied bee wanting—no means will be scrupled at—no
e„__gt! will be regarded—to frustrate the exertions to
'Tate commerce and industry from the last rem-
-4"8 of feudalism. Should the efforts of the League promise success, there
/1/1,1! he, next session, a second edition of Lord Stanley's
lul)l3lieable
Besides, there to England, despite the pledges to
maintaines_t_ inviolable the franchise of the Rotor m Bill.
is a precedent for such a proposal in the
161,1fdr,abwe.hisernent of the forty-shilling freeholders of Ire-
ye._
same
political privilege wes extinguished for the
,„„'•Yss
public
reasons that this will be attempted—to sup-
possibilit
The biiFopinion,
political rights, and national claims.
attention of the country ought to be directed to the
to yof such a scheme, and kept on the alert so as
rt'• P jeeipared to frustrate any such attempt, in the event
the desirendg
eftfructde before the new registration can have
Altih..ou,gh, fart.
from believing that every man to his
acre
if vs_ ;me panacea for England's ills, I yet think that
av P roe
were let in allotments, at rents of the
national vbelut.e would prove an individual as well as a
prOdUcerti t, by which the incendiary would become
pauper s the poacher an honest cultivator, and the
k!e a proprietor • and so the commercial classes, in
eleu is as much
,"eLIPIkug themselves, • will help others, and so restore that
Prides—a bold the strength of a country as a country's
when peasantry to a status in society—so that
'tierce 11," trade crowd our ports, and extended. com-
the ittitaLeditniaultate our. industry, there will remain a class,
and e creation of thepresent struggle, to record
Learetbensber the • ,
existence of the Anti-Corn-law
remain, Sir, your most obedient servant,
*iztQn, Dec. 2, 1844. A IigO4I.ANIC.