The Sun.
London, England, 1828-03-03 00:00:00

called by his Sovereigm, in taking lessons in Political
Economy, from a professor of that science, twice a
week. This is as it should be. We live indeed in

the age of the Schoolmaster. His triumph is com-
plete. At the sight of his rod, the sword drops
froin the hand of the Great Captain of the Age,
Who resigns himself submissively to the authority of
the new power. So great a moral lesson as this has
not been taught the world since the days of Charle-
magne, who, according to the:account left us by his
faithful Secretary, Eginhart, after making the con-
quest of Europe, called in also the aid of the School-
master. It is true, Eginhart inftirms us, that that
great hero, notwithstanding the effects of a patient
assiduity almost super-human, never attained such
prbficieney in scholar-craft as to be able to write his
name. But the beneficial effects of this homage.to
learning were not the less felt, that his individual
improvement (from the ,lateness of the period, per-
haps, at which he commenced his studies) did not
correspond to the goodness of the intention. We
learn that the parallel between his Grace and Char-
lemagne does not hold merely in the greatness of
their exploits and the latenesi of the period at which
they commenced their studies, but also in the slow-
ness of the progress. We regret, to hear that the
Teacher has hitherto found his Grace any thing'but

an apt scholar. It is a great step in the way of
deference to public opinion, that those entrusted with
the government of the country should deem it neces-
sary to acquire the due qualifications for office, after
their elevation. It would be still better were they

to acquire the qualifications-first and the offices after-
.wards; but let us be thankful for what we have

gained. To guard against any danger to the State
from erroneous decisions during the interval in whifth
the Minister is qualifying, it might be adviseable
that the respective schoolmasters should act for their
ptipils, till they could conscientiously certify them
fit for the work of Administration. When his

Grace shall, have completed his course of Political.
Economy, he will enjoy a great distinction in their
Lordships' House ; for our hereditary Legislators,
with one or two exceptions, have hitherto disdained
the trammels of any science ; and some of them, of
great name in the country, hive even made it- their
boast that they never read a line of a work sin Poli-
tical Economy. Though, therefore, his Grace gets
slowly on, according to report, he is a march or two
in advance of his brethren, and no man knows better
'than himself to make the most of any advantage.—
Morning Chronicle. .

Ministers, in limiting their assent to a Commis-
sion to inquire into the state of the Law to two sub-
jects only, out of the many brought forwardly Mr.
Brougham—namely, the transfer of real property,
and the progress of a trial in Westminster Hall—
have shown (as it was expected they would) the
awe in which they stand of offending the " unpaid."
Mr. Peel, with singular simplicity, asked, in sub-
stance, what interest the justices could feel in the up-
holding of the present system, if it were pregnant
with the evils that had been described, as they per-
sonally derived no pecuniary emolument from the
exercise of their functions ? Are we never to have
an end of the argument arising from gratuitous ser-
vices ? Lord Ellenborough, in his energetic phra-
seology, said, the economy that produces " cheap
injustice" is, in its effect, worse than any extrava-
gance. But though the Justices are not remunera-
ted in money, do they not derive a consequence
from the office, which makea it an object of ambi-
tion with all the residents in the country whose cir-
cumstances allow them to aspire to the distinction
Mr. Peel, however, must not be taken to be quite
so ignorant of the world as might be inferred from
this apparently very simple question. His exclusion
of this branch of the law from the labours of the
Commission proves, incontestably, that he is IVell
aware how much that sort of consequence is valued
that the present system, as it is worked, confers
upon these who are in the commission of the Peace.
A tolerably strong hint was given by a Chairman of
Quarter Sessions (a County Member whose name
is found in all divisions among those who resist im-
provement) how very strongly any interference
with the Magistracy would be resented. The hint
was not lost upon those on whom it was intended
to operate, and Ministers shaped their coarse
accordingly, which pacified the irritated Baronet,
and Mr.- Brougham happily escaped the tre-.
1 mendous castigation which had been flotouti7
eed ; and has doubtless received the warm
congratulations of his friends upon the occasion.
The Solicitor-General asks, would you condemn
4,500 individuals, who " give" their services to the
country, and who execute the laws contained in five
thick volumes of Burn's Justice—he might have
said six volumes, reckoning the Supplement ? Does
this Learned Gentleman (from whom, notwith-
standing he has found it advisable to act and vote
with the opponents of toleration, much has been ex-
pected, from the moderation and candour of his cha-
racter) believe, that one-tenth (450) are qualified to
administer these multifarious laws—and administer
them, too,•in instances affecting every thing valuable
to man, short only of life itself—without appeal!
It seems to be forgotten that the proposed innova-
tion is only to place the " Unpaid" Administration
upon the same footing upon which the Judges of the
Superior Courts of Equity and Law stand. Indeed,
one of the very strongest grounds for the necessity
of subjecting this branch of- our existing Judicature
to revision is, this large number of persons .(for
there are 4,500 County Justices,' exclusively of City
and Borough Justices), who are clothed with judicial
power, all possessing equal authority ; but who,
from the manner of their appointment, rarely can
possess the necessary qualifications for the proper
exercise of it. It was truly stated, in a letter in this
Paper, lately, that the office of Justice of Peace is
looked upon as a grade in society to which persons
of certain estates and incomes are entitled, almost as a
matter of course, and to want which is considered' a
disgrace. Lords Lieutenant are not in the habit of re-
fusing the insertion of any individuals in the Commis-
sion, who move in a certain condition in life, whether
they are known to possess personal fitness or not, and
whatever may be their age, pursuits, or experience.
It would be considered a personal slight, to re-
ject any application, founded on the usual recom-
mendations of family or fortune; and the Lord Lieu-
tenant, who instituted any inquiries in these in-
stances would speedily find himself unpopular among
his opulent neighbours, and, probably, thought un-
gentlemanlike ! It is to be hoped, that the efforts
to ameliorate this most comprehensive and important
branch of the law; will not be relaxed. Let sepa-
rate Bills with distinct remedies be proposed, We
are far from blaming the discretion that has accepted
a Commission directed only to the two objects that
have been conceded as requiring investigation ; they
are most important in themselves, though the laws that
are executed by the " Unpaid," from the number and
variety of them—the extent of their application—and
from their concerning, almost to the exclusion of all
other branches, the far greater portion of the population
of the kingdom (for the great multitude of mankind
have little to do with Westminster hall, or the Ecele,
siasticalor Admiralty Courts, and nothing at all to do
1 with Conyey.aneers), are even yet of much greater
importance, and from time to time should receive a
most careful revision. Tian e is. great encourage-
ment to proceed. The Licensing System, a few
;N
;,sass ago, was deemed impregnable ; but the re-
peated exposure of its manifold abuses has produced,
at length,' the desiFed effect; and it seems the " Un-
paid" are now ready to relinquish a jurisdiction
which the interests of the public required that they
should never hays possessed.—/bid.
The plain, distinct, constitutional? Objection to
what are called " Select Vestries' is, that their ex-
istence is a recognition of the principle of taxation
without reresentation, Such a power is not allowed
y law to be vested in the King and his Ministers,
because of its own nature, it inevitably leads to
abuse. Is it not preposterous that a power which is
denied to the regal and supreme Government of this
realm, should be allowed to be exercised by any ob-
scure knot of individuals who take upon themselves
l to tax a whole parish as they please, to support the
most: corrupt system of jobbing that ever disgraced
thk country ! If it were not for the profit OF rather