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

COLONIAL MAGAZINES.

Two monthly periodicals, both devoted to the con-
iderntion of Colonial topics, are now lying before us,
IT one published by Simmons, and the other by
Fiiher. Each displays nearly equal care and skill in
„MI6 getting up, and, in their remarks on our different
`-'o4mies, adopts a temperate and rational tone, steering
eleaF of party spirit or exaggeration.

CHURCHMAN'S MONTHLY REVIEW.
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
1-14rches is the Restoration. of Popery," we find the
Reviewer observing that the Tractarians, " in what
has recently issued from their press, have committed
Tel4selves to Popery in its whole length and breadth."
:he review is cleverly written, and is by no means
deficient in spirit.

RAILWAY REGISTER.
Tie Editor of this Magazine is a gentleman named
nr)ce, who, so far as we can augur from a first
number, bids fair to acquit himself of the bask of
superintendence with great skill and judgment. The
woll', as may be surmised, is wholly of a practical
character, professing to be a monthly record of
engineering and public enterprise, for railways,
canals, harbours, docks, mines, steam navigation,
patents, inventions, &c. The present Number is em-
pllished with a curious sketch of a newly-invented
Ile- boat ;
of railway
aid contains, among other articles of in-
_°,..rnaation, an ingenious essay on the popular subject
extension.

TRE FORTY-SHILLING FREE-
HOLDERS.
c, To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
toi et ciel Caldera is an adage with our
lighbours, although we need not travel so far in search
Zits verification. A conviction of the truth of the
1,„ age seems to be operating on the minds of a very
e portion of the industrious and provident classes of
",country. Deeply imbued with a conviction of the
necessity of the abolition of our restrictive commercial
;nl the question with them has been, Who is to lead the
re
hope?—for it appeared as doubtful in its result
it was desperate as an enterprise. Where was there
f4n.sbj..each in the massive and apparently impregnable
7Lincations of feudalism and monopoly? Its ramparts
could not be scaled without an apparatus too costly to
aveY thither a sufficient numerical strength to cope
.".4 and to defeat the defenders of selfish monopoly,
9/ltp:to expel the aristocratic exclusives from the citadel
h °ur Constitution. With many the belief was strong
t-4-t; one who had attained to command among the mo-
-°ls4lists would turn traitor to his professions, seeing
that-
his origin was from among those who were ex-
cluded and oppressed, and in whom he had sedulously
instilled a belief that he pitied their condition, and
tWisQuld relieve them to the utmost of his power ; but
-;,?se who knew his deceptive character affirmed that his
Zh'ee, was to postpone the attack, for that he was afraid
h.:if-his partisans would turn traitors to him and deliver
his.
eo st to his opponents. It was between these op-
Opinions that the mind of the country oscillated.
14'‘'onnoitring parties frequently made observations, and
tiottnnY were the schemes submitted to public eonsidera-
the t u?t one of which was pract.icable. It remained for
active and practical mind of Cobden to conceive the
Nl° for his clear and comprehensive judgment to conso-
leiaate the requisite power, and for his cool intrepidity to
her arid guide the impetuosity of the attack on that
k -401 which his keen eye alone bad discerned. His
pand raised the standard of" The Patriotic Forty-shilling
thr,;ll °biers," to which hundreds have flocked, while
ii,,ta.ftrespdsassilloorne are anxious to enlist ; and it is to foci-
te 'e the attainment of this object that I have presumed
%wick your attention. It is evident that in-
dialu al exertion cannot accomplish it, but that c.om-
-41'43° and confidence is necessary to success, as trte-
tt„ (. property in the environs of London is seldom to be
ore for less than 700/., and all small freeholds
etch
ah... More than their relative value, being eagerly pur-
‘ses2:or the sake of
.the.perpetnity.
pro.no amount of capital is requisite for the purchasee of
titieeerty by a confidential party, and public opinion un-
ak„„lltionably selects the Anti-Corn-law League as the
p-6,-,1 in whom truth and confidence might safely be re-
The actual amount of capital so employed need
psaitcnnparativelv small, provided the principle of a de-
val were adopted. Suppose that land of the
leti;e of 2,0001. or 3,0001. were purchased and divided
IPertions of the value of 40s. a year, when deposits
reig'it be required of such individual amount as would
tieeasahurse the League for the original outlay upon which
sOsall/ might be prepared—for which an Act passed last
fieh„--en gives great facilities—and delivered to the
thrsitors for qualification and security, the parties
nnlselves having no real connexion with the property
4.1,11 Might be let to some member of the Council and
fsc,`` in allotments, or ,entire. the depositors receiving
totinal the secretary only their 40s. a year. To accom-
nd ate the system to the means of the Becessitous of the
thottstrious classes which ought to be a primary object il4eetieftsolidation of' the system, depositors, upon giving
tire to the secretary, and at the expiration of a certain
teth.; should receive their deposit, the League substi-
Whieg another member desirous of becoming an elector,
With Would greatly facilitate the registration of voters
ea' aittbe accommodation of depositors in case of ne-
Rq%
'Note this plan adopted, thousands might become pos-
tain :',of the franchise, who, otherwise, could never ob-
qiitd'at Privilege ; while others of larger capital could
that "Y, for the four metropolitan counties. But to make
Iloa'itn entirely successful, the power to withdraw is
sit6;ecessary. Calamity might overtake a small depo-
itlowrtnaneretektios
and it is with that class the League will have to
hsmima.ll capital would become of the highest
Lea cording to the . success which may attend the
tiengille Registration, so will be the measure of opposi-
•sorpm the supporters of monopoly.
to. tb las the present system of registration worked
e exclusive advantage of the protected classes, so
ste; would the supporters of monopoly be its most
itgall°tls upholders ; but as soon as they discover that
nhbe turned to their absolute annihilation, no effort
Wed e wanting—no means will be scrupled at—no
etaag,,es will be regarded—to frustrate the exertions to
„.."e'Pate commerce and industry from the last rem-
"
(,4-!S of feudalism.
willthe efforts of the League promise success, there
, next session, a second edition of Lord Stanley's
tnai_ applicable to England, despite the pledges to
ides, there
thienrveioliasbale the franchise of the Uniform Bill.
precedent for such a proposal in the
nellildseinent of the forty-shilling freeholders of Ire-
ter,'
sw °se political rivilege was extinguished for the
press same reesens that this will be attempted—to sup-
..!nti:fns
The public opinion, political rights, and national claims.
ity
oufehthaesccohuenmtrey, ought to be directed to the
Pcasiband kept on the alert so as
btP,ired repared to frustrate any such attempt, in the event
tie deuin made before the new registration can have
11
,41_.sg effect.
acre
13ugh far from believing that every man to his
if th:s the panacea for England's ills, I yet think that
it.o,era property were let in allotments, at rents of the
hal
t .I_ll • 1 benefit,
O th
netioge value would prove an individual as well as a
by which the incendiary would become
poacher an honest cultivator, and the
°Per a
whp- Proprietor ; and so the commercial classes, in
.ling themselves, will help others, and so restore that
pritti: is as much the strength of a country as a country's
when a bold peasantry to a status in society—so that
buert free trade crowd our port*, and extendea corn-
therce,_ stimulate our industry, tilt-re will remain a class,
411.11m1:nediate creation of the present struggle, to record
et it, remember the existence of the Anti-Corn-law
13! • I remains Sir, your most obedient servant,
"Itont Dec. 2, 1844. A MECHANIC.