The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-15 00:00:00

1 '3°
atilt,
67V

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1850.

Government, with the connivance of the Legialatnie,
appears resolved to dedicate London to the filthy cua
_toms acquired by its inhabitants from an almost im-
memorial antiquity. Last evening two most im-
portant measures, (or the better supply of water to the
raetrop-olis were rejected by majoritietof 106 and 110,

aver having already passed a first reading. Both of
these projected improvements were foregone, more-
river, for reasons of the flimsiest character. One ob-

jection was a prejudice against artesian wells,
Lnd another was an extravagantly disproportioned
consideration fur eleven mill-owners over and
above the many hundreds of thousands of
people requiring some more nutritious and wholesome
beverage than that obtained from the great water-
channel now employed for the purposes of drainage.
Than this nothing could be more false in principle or
more ridiculous in its general application. Well
might we feel disposed to despair of ever obtaining
good water for consumption in the capital if we re-
garded the matter as wholly dependent upon the mea-
sures yesterday. rejected. Fortunately those mea-
sures, to our thinking, are, though truly admir-
able in contrivance, little better than temporary
makeshifts until such time as the Thames
can be turned to its natural account, being rendered
the purveyor of health and nourishment instead of
disease and poison. When the sewage shall, as it
must ultimately, be conveyed from the metropolis by
other means than the river, leaving that noble means
of irrigation uncontaminated by material capable of
judicious employment as manure throughout the
agricultural districts, the inhabitants of London can
be as readily supplied with water for household con-
sumption from the Thames between the bridges as it
could though the current were conveyed to the me-
tropolis by means of an aqueduct either from above
or below Henley. Under those circumstances, heavy
penalties inflicted upon all such parties as should
throw refuse of any kind into the river would pre-
serve the waters of the Thames at Waterloo•bridge
sufficiently pure for all domestic purposes—as pure as
it is at this time below Henley under existing ar-
rangements. When, therefore, we express our
extreme disappointment at the successive re-
jection of the London (Watford) Spring Water
Company Bill, and of the Metropolitan Water-works,
(Henley-on-Thames and London. Aqueduct) Bill,
upon the occasion of their proposed second reading,
we do so leis because we regard them as calculated
to prove good expedients for the time being, than be-
cause we view the fact of their being quashed so
hastily, and quashed too upon arguments of such
paltry opposition, as a token of the apathy
of the Government, and generally speaking
of the Legislature itself, in reference to
all sanitary improvements. By the obstinate main-
tenance of the window-tax the light of heaven is shut
out from the poorer classes, and with it all chances of
proper ventilation. By the ridiculous subserviency
of the Cabinet and of the Parliament to the whims,
the eccentricities, and the dawdling of the Board of
Health, session after session is allowed to pass without
witnessing one advancement in any one particular.
Steps cannot be taken in this matter
or in that matter, according to the Secretary for the
lime Department, until the report, long expected
and long promised, has been obtained from the Com-
missioners. And the utility of such reports. has cer-
tainly been strikingly exemplified of late by that
long-winded document, in which the result of the
Board's deliberations upon the subject of metropo-
litan drainage was intimated ! Thank heaven, if this
is the disposition of the Government, if this
is the habitual procrastination of the Commissioners,
if this is the usual indifference of the Parliament,
there are some few even among our popular repre-
sentatives who are not disposed to wink at its un-
interrupted continuance ! Last evening, Lr example,
on e of our most veteran reformers, Mr. HUME, pro-
tested against the notion that the supply of good
water to London will necessitate the injury of pro-
perty
incapable of adequate compensation. He main-
ained that if a few mill-owners might be injuriously
affected by the Aqueduct Bill from Henley, it must
also be borne in recollection that a beneficial
result would follow inevitably, and that
beneficial result, moreover, affecting no less than two
millions of the inhabitants of the metropolis. Again,
Mr. MOWATT, with a delightful enthusiasm, went to
the length of maintaining that, supposing even that
che3e eleven mill-owners lost the whole of their
property, such a circumstance ought not to
weigh one iota in the scale ? And Mr.
BEIINAL OSBORNE, the truly independent Mem-
ber for Middlesex, almost pathetically adjured
the House of Commons to examine the water im-
bibed in the metropolis with the aid of a mi-
croscope. Anything more discouraging to the aspi-
rants for; anitary improvement has not for a consider-
4ble time been so conspicuously visible in the
Psrliamentary debates as the result of these two me-
lancholy divisions last evening.

The long-expected trial of strength between the

Protectionists and the Free-traders, in the popular
branch of the Legislature, has taken place. The nation
has, at length, an opportunity of testing the accuracy
of the statement as to the "decided reaction" in pub-
lic opinion, and the numerous conversions from the
anti• monopolist ranks that bad been so loudly vaunted.
After the series of meetings held last autumn, and
the unusual activity displayed by the agricul-
turists, we had vainly supposed that not a single
week would have elapsed . after the re-as-
sembling of Parliament before the question was fully
and fairly discussed on neutral ground. But week
after week, and month after month, glided away, and
nothing practical was done. No leader of the agri-
culturists could be induced to fling down the gauntlet
which so many free-trade champions were ready to
accept. In fact, the really talented Members of the
party shrunk from the unwelcome task. The Hon.
Member for Buckinghamshire,. whose position and
Ability might have warranted the undertaking, too
clearly perceived the impolicy of hazarding a " pitched
battle." A guerilla warfare was better suited to the
troops on whose support he could reckon.
He did not wish to reveal his real weakness and the

poverty of his resources to his triumphant adrer.

caries; accordingly, in place of demanding the re-
enactment of the corn-laws, he contented himself with
asking for a " fair adjustment of local taxation," and
8. modification of the fiscal charges that pressed unduly
upon the owners and occupiers of land throughout the
country. _ _

But this moderation was not duly appreciated by

he sturdy yeomen. They could not understand why

their leaders were not as " ready for the field"
as they were themselves. The pack was ac-
cordingly unkennelled, " Old Jowler (Chowler)
leads the cry," and threats and menaces
were freely hurled against all who refused to comply
with their very reasonable requests, or to pay a
" black mail" to the bucolic freebooters. The walls
of the Crown and Anchor rung again with 'the
torrents of indignant eloquence lavished on the occa-
sion. The labourers were to be turned adrift defi-
cient of employment, and thus driven into a state of
insurrection, while the farmers would take care not
to interfere in any way to suppress the disturbances
which they had themselves excited. The much
vaunted loyalty :of the " Yeomen of England" was
fur the moment forgotten. In fact, they were
not merely contented with professing neutra-
lity, or declaring their intention to let the
agrarian tumult proceed without let or hindrance, but
some of the more energetic were prepared to take a
more active part, and "to exercise the strength they
still retain in their arms."

These vigorous demonstrations .and ' Bold words
ufficlent
Honourable
kwneorwe,iehdOgwede
vleerildeinra. Thes stimulate their ac-
eee
Member for
Buckinghamshire, and the other chiefs. of the party,
would not abandon the cautious
policy they had deli-
, herately entered upon. They were too well aware of
the disastrous results that must follow from a
decisive
and unequivocal defeat to hazard the encounter'
" But --- rush in where angels fear to tread,"
and GRANTLEY BERKELEY was ready
to lead the
"forlorn hope." The new-fledged zeal so remark-
able in all recent converts perhapt stimulated the
lion. Gentleman to the desperate undertaking, or,
probably, he was anxious to induce the public to
forget the "family jars" in which he had played so
coespicuous a part—or, possibly, he might have dis-
covered in the exposure some ingenuous device for
annoying his elder
brother—the head of his house—
and would-be nominates of the representatives for the
county of Gloucester. The Protectionists willingly
accepted the proffered aid ; they entered not into his
motives, and influenced, perhaps, by feelings similar
to those which induce the Moslem to give the
" post of honour" and of "danger" to renegades,
they permitted the Honourable Gentleman to lead
the vanguard; and introduce the long-expected motion.
* It is scarcely aec'eSsary to allude to the debate. If

any question has received full and ample discussion—
if any principle has been definitively and irrevocably
settled, it is that of " free trade." Further pro-
gress must be made; certain existing restrictions
must be abolished, but there can be no retrogression
or reaction. Mr. BERKELEY, who still calls himself
a Free-trader (a Free-trader—GOD save the mark !)
desired, because some obnoxious taxes were still re-
tained, to reimpose the most objectionable of all—
" the tax upon bread," on the food of the people,
for the benefit of the privileged few. It was not, per-
haps, the " corn of England" so much as the " corn
of the tropics" that the Honourable Gentleman was
looking to. He might not object to the abolition of
the "bread monopoly" if the "sugar monopoly"
could still be retained. But one measure of relief
naturally followed the other, and the West India
proprietor sympathised strongly with the landocracy
of England at the grievance they had sustained, of
being no longer able to maintain artificial prices, and
to preserve taxes that had been originally imposed,
not for the purposes of revenue, but of protection
Hence his abjuration of his " former errors," and
his readiness to bring forward resolutions totally op-
posed to the principle which he had formerly sustained
by his votes.

The division was, however, too decisive for us to
quarrel with the Hon. Gentleman for having pro-
duced a result so very satisfactory. His motion was
negatived by a majority of 114-184 only having sup-
ported, while 298 opposed any further consideration
of "the Acts relating to the importation of foreign
corn." We can now understand the reason why Mr.
DISRAELI refused to bring forward such a resolution.
The Honourable Member, indeed, candidly ac-
knowledged that "it was not one which, had
he been consulted, he would have recommended.
If he had thought such a motion ought to have been
made, he would either have proposed it himself or
asked some person more competent to do so." Mr.
GRANTLEY BERKELEY was clearly not the champion
he would have selected ; and, indeed, we cannot
wonder at his unequivocal displeasure. His well-
considered system of tactics has been overturned by
the rashness and hardihood of the recruit; the
strength of his party has been annihilated through
the obstinacy of the new convert; his forces have
been dissipated and dispersed, and he must now en-
deavour to re-organize his forces, and to commence
de novo. In the meantime we wish the Protectionists
much joy of their acquisition ; we give them their
new ally with all our hearts. There are, we believe,
few of the Free-traders who will not join with Mr.
COBDEN, that if asked to " make a present of one of
their colleagues," they would not have selected the
Hon. Gentleman, the hopeful scion of the ancient
house of BERKELEY, as the person to be freely sur-
rendered.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The Ministers received a severe check in the As-
sembly on Monday, a check which seems to be
ominous of the fate of the Electoral Bill. In the de-
bate on the Badget, M. CHAUVIN proposed an
amendment, rendering each Minister personally re-
sponsible for any expenses he might incur without the
authorization of the Assembly. This proposition,
which was opposed by the Minister of Finance and
the Minister of Justice, and which is tantamount
to a vote of want of confidence, was carried by a
majority of 85, the numbers being for the amend-
ment 361, against it, 276.
The Patric says that the Procureur-General of the
Republic will be guilty of a dereliction of duty if he
does not demand an authorization to prosecute M.
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, for having been guilty of a
provocation to insurrection in his recently-published
protest against the Electoral Bill.
The following modifications are said to have been
made in the Bill by the Committee:—
" 1. It has been decided that individuals shall be
inscribed on the electoral lists who can prove that they
have been inscribed for more than three years on the
list of those who are bound to give a certain portion of
labour (prestations en nature) for the vicinal roads.-
2. The mayor in drawing up the electoral list shall be
assisted by assessors chosen by the Juge ee Paix
amongst the electors residing in the commune. The dis-
putes relative to the inscriptions on the list, or the strik-
ing out of electors, shall be carried before the Juge de
Paix.-3. Difficulties which may arise relative to the re-
fusal of father., masters, or employers, to deliver certi-
ficates of residence to their sons, domestics, or work-
men, shall also be submitted to the jurisdiction of the
Juges de Paix, who, where the three years' residence is
clearly proved, may order the inscription on the list."
Petitions against the Bill are coming in from all
parts of the country. Among these is one signed by
MM. ARMAND MARRAST, GOUDCHAUX, RECURT,
BASTIDE, and other members of the Committee of the
Constitution .in the Constituent Assembly. It is
abundantly clear, therefore, that the authors of the
Constitution consider any attempt to limit universal
suffrage that may be made, except by a Constituent
Assembly properly convened, as illegal.
DUPIN is, it is said, also of this opinion,
and he has therefore purposely absented himself from
the Assembly during the discussion. A telegraphic
dispatch was sent to him by the Ministers on Mon-
day, urging him to return and resume his place as
President. His absence is considered a stronger
protest against the measure than would be the most
eloquent speech. Even General CHANGARNIER
quails before the firm yet calm attitude assumed by
the people, and is obliged to temper the violence of
the reactionary measures which the Ministers would
fain adopt. general CHANGARNIER, who has taken
some pains to inform himself of the real state of the
feelings of the soldiers, is now convinced that the
warning given by General LAMORICIERR from the
tribune to all violators of the Constitution, is a warning
not to be despised. The Ministers wished to
dismiss all colonels and officers of the National
Guards who should sign petitions against the elec-
toral law. General CHANGARNIER said they might
as well dissolve the National Guards, as the men
would take part with the officers, and the troops of
the line would not be inclined to act against the
National Guards.
The insurrection in. the Soane et Loire is spread-
ing ; the insurgents were still in possession of Creusot
when the last accounts left.
Patrie say s—
" The workmen of the coal basin of the Creusot are
in open revolt, to the numbers of 5,000 or 6,000. There
is something besides a question of wages mixed up in
this strike; but the Government is in a position to re-
establish order."
The Constitationnel has the following:
" A dispatch from General de Castellaae has reached
the Government, which confirms and explains the ru-
mours relative to the insurrection of the coal-miners of
the Creusot. We have told how some workmen, who
had been arrested, were rescued from the hands of jus-
tice. The arrival of the law officer of the department
had for effect, to give the insurrection a more consider-
shit) development, and the number of insurgents is esti-
mated at from 7,000 to 8,000. Troops were immedi-
ately ordered t's the spot, and the last dispatch of Gene-
ral de Castellane is of a nature to quiet all anxiety as to
the results,"
A singular letter appears in the National, signed
by 'AUBERT, ex-Prefect of Corsica ; ADAM, ex-
Mayor of the Ist Arrondissement of Paris ; and
BOUILLON, ex-lieutenant Colonel of the 2i Legion
of National Guards; certifying the following state-
ment :
" Colonel Laborde, representative of the people, a
particular friend of the President, with whom he had
been condemned for the. Boulogne affair, assured
us, only the day before yesterday (11th of
May), that M. Berryer and other Legitimists addressed
him about a month ago, at the Chamber, in pre-
sence of General Montbolon, for sake of recom-
mending that they should advise the President that it
was time for him to come to an understanding with the
Bourbons, who would ensure him a suitable position;
but that it he did not make haste to treat: he would be
lost before two months had expired."
The colonel further admitted that ho had related
SaAndTl3::
the conversation to the Prince himself.
G NC
RAILWAYS
Lo.
PARIS BOURSE, MAT 14.—Latest Prices--Five per
55f; Bank of
FCreanntsc.e,,B2B,fo.7s7fo.. 70e. perThFreoeßE
'WrleAanTs
6—Dutch Rhenish, I%—Namur Boulogne and Amiens,
and Liege, 61A—Northern of France,
oL
USINLEI.N6 DEIq,OvIsNESTI(I7CK -la CHANGE, MAY 14.
deaux, 2N—Paris and Roues, 2 A.

SPAIN.
Madrid journals of the 9th have arrived ; they
contain no news of interest.
The Bolsa was closed on the 9th.