The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-03 00:00:00

THE SUN,

every description of property, did not pass lightly "CHF -r-
-over the railway interest. The quotations not
only fell in common with Consols, and P-
other species of investment, but tl
materially reduced, owing t" "
ment that prevailPA
depression

..ery
...0 traffic was
_ Lne general embarrass-
_.. on every side, and the extreme

ur trade. Stock was flung on the market,
-.la sacrificed for anything that could be obtained,
and when the change was produced by the virtual
suspension of the Bank Charter Act, which restored
some degree of confidence in other matters, that con-
fidence was not extended to railway property, which
continued to fall, while almost everything else ex-
hibited considerable improvement. This continued to
the present year, but at length the symptoms of a
change are becoming perceptible. Messrs. RAILTON,
in order to teat the value of the unguaranteed capi-
tal, assumed that a person on the 26th April, the
date of their last circular, "purchased one share in
each of twenty-three unguaranteed lines (the most
attended to at that period) by an outlay
of 7331. 163. 3d., and kept them over until
the 26th July, three very dull months in the
share market, and without any apparent improve-
ment in confidence to attract particular observation.
The result showed no variation in value upon one

line, a loss upon seven lines, and a gain upon fifteen
lines, leaving a balance of profit amounting to 31. 7s.
3d. per cent. at the end of three months, or at the
rate of 131. 9s. per annum."
This advance, although trifling, affords a cheering
augury. It shows that the feeling which has made
capitalists shun railway stock for the last few years is
beginning to change, and that as other channels of
investment are becoming narrower, and money is
accumulating in amount, with a falling rate of inte-
rest, a considerable portion will be attracted into
railways, which cannot fail to improve considerably
in value.

One of the first measures likely to occupy the at-
tention of the Legislature in the next session of Par-
liament will be the Irish Land Question, and we

think it is the duty of all who wish for the moral,
social, and physical improvement of the people of
Ireland, to aid the Government in the settlement of
this vital question. Ministers are pledged to legislate
on this subject, and those parties who would create
any difficulties in the legal adjustment of the relations
between landlords and tenants in Ireland are not, in
our humble judgment, serving the cause either of the
Government or the people.
There is no inherent difficulty in the subject, save
that which is inseparable from the settlement of any

question where jarring interests are concerned. The
laws in relation to land are not more unalterable than

the laws which relate to any other species of property,

They are the creations of the Legislature, and we
conceive it is not only within the province, but that
it is the actual duty, of the Government to amend or
alter them as the social state and the public interest
might require.
It is idle to say that the matter should be left to
the civilising influence of education. The history of
the world proves that no degree of enlightenment can
work such a moral miracle as to elevate the general

body of mankind above the considerations of selfish
ness. The wisdom and learning of BACON did no'

preserve him from the meanest and most sordid in

fluences. If those moral principles and those "better
feelings," which should spring from them, were to
advance hand in hand with the rapid progress of

human knowledge, there would be no necessity for

the additions made, session after mission, to our civi
and criminal co le. We have no faith in these Uto

pian anticipations; indeed, the answer to such falla

cious doctrines has been written, over and over again,
in characters of crime and blood.

One of our contemporaries, in endeavouring to ind
cate certain fallacies which he attributes to those who
write and speak on this subject, has, in our humble
opinion, fallen into greater fallacies than any
which he has attempted to point out. He says—
" Many persons are apt to suppose, that if they prove
certain conduct to be impolitic and unjust they thereby
establish its illegality." In anything written or
spoken upon this point that came under our observa-
tion we have certainly been unable to discwier any
such confusion as is here implied. We are quite
aware of the imperfection of our laws, we are aware
that many acts of injustice can be committed which
cannot be strictly said to be illegal, and it is to cure
this defect, to prevent acts of impolicy and injustice
being committed under the shelter of the law, that we
call for legislation upon this subject. The Legisla-
ture cannot snake men good and wise, but it can
make men act with justice.
The same contemporary notices " another fallacy
in which persons are apt to indulge who talk on this
subject, and that is, that land is held, according to the
law and constitution of the United Kingdom, in trust,
and that consequently a landowner is bound by law
so to comport himself with respect to his land as to
make it produce the greatest happiness to the greatest
possible number ;" and goes on to ask in what text•
book, in what legal decision, this maxim is to be
found, &c. &c.
We do not believe that any text-book or legal de-
cision will supply any such maxim ; we believe the
absolute owner has at this moment perfect and entire
dominion over his estate. We know that the land-
owner in Ireland can evict his tenant, raze to the
ground the humble roof-tree under which his fathers
have reposed for ages, and send him and his helpless off-
spring to perish by the wayside— we know that
this power has been exercised under circumstances of
great cruelty. We believe this power dangerous to
the social welfare of Ireland ; we believe it has al-
ready worked much mischief, and will continue to
work still greater evils without the interposition of
the Legislature; we ,would, therefore, call upon the
Government to introduce some measure to meet such
a crying grievance.
There is no power, no right, beyond the control of
the law and the constitution ; and one of the great
perfections which jurists attribute to our constitution
is, that it contains within itself the elements to cure
any defects which time or circumstances may pro-
duce. We would, then, call on the Legislature to
deal boldly but equitably with this matter, to deal
between party and party in accordance with the
most rigid spirit of justice. We would certainly in-
terpose some legal shield between the tenant and a
capricious or cruel landlord ; we would savo the in-
dustrious tenant from being driven out a houseless
wanderer, and would give him such a fixed
interest in the soil as would be calcu-
lated to make him a useful citizen, while,
at the same time, we would preserve every just
right of the landlord, consistent with those higher
and paramount considerations, the preservation of
human life, and the general well-being, peace, and
order of the community. With regard to the asser-
tion that land in either Eogland or Ireland is not the
subject of a trust, we are amongst the number of
those who conceive that " property has its duties as
well as its rights," and that every landlord is morally,
if not legally, a trustee. His rights are based on
public utility, and we think he is bound by the obli-
gations of society so to exercise his rights and duties
as to produce the greatest amount of good to the
social community of which he is a member.

ALARMING FIRE AT KENNINGTON.—This morning,
at an early hour, a very alarming fire broke
Lowerpre-
mises enning
ton-lane, Lambeth. The fire commenced in a blind manu-
factory, and but few minutes elapsed ere the lower portion
of tt e building, together with the staircase, became enve-
loped in flame. At that period Mrs. Nehery and two chil-
dren were in their beds asleep, and it was with great trouble
that they could be made sensible of their danger. They
happily succeeded in escaping from one of the back windows.
The engines of the London brigade and West of England
office quickly attended, and plenty of water having been ob-
tained from the Lambeth Company's mains, the engines were
set to work, but the firemen were unable to get the flames
extinguished until the whole of the stock in trade was de-
stroyed, the lower part cf the premises burned out, and the
upper floors seriously darnaged. The origin of the lire could
not be ascertained.
HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—THE GRAND NA-
TIONAL CONCEIII3.—We learn that it is the intention of the
committee of the Grand National Concerts, to produce origi-
nal lyrical works by native composers. George Mactarien
and Edward Loder are already engaged, and we believe an
offer has been made to John Barnett, the author of The
Mountain Sylph. Bake will be the musical director; Herr
Molique, leader; and the celebrated Musard is to be en-
trusted with the compoing and conducting of the dance-
music. We understand also that the wurld•famous chorus
of the Berlin Chapel Royal, consisting of seventy male
voices, under the direction of Kapel- Meister Neidthardt, has
been secured. The orchestra will amount to ninety-eight
performers.
THE RECOEDEESHIP.—Mr. Montagu Chambers
has announced himself as a candidate for this office.
'skin train from

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