The Sun.
London, England, 1826-07-24 00:00:00

tricts cannot be allowed to starve--IHiriit the Pooh'
Rates of the parishes in which the distress exists in.
the greatest degree, are -inadequate -to support the
unemployed—and that the voluntary' contributions are
nearly exhausted. Something, therefore, must be done ;
and, if that something is to be effected, either by
more extensive assessments of the Poor Rates on the
surrounding districts, by fresh appeals to private cha-
rity, or by the appropriation of public money, we
must in all these cases raise our voice against giving
relief without emPloying the male part at least of the
population. flow is this to be done will be asked ?
We answer that all are capable of common labour,
and that labour can always be found in every neigh-
bourhood on some work of general utility : and fur-
tiler, if the state of the manufacturing interests do not
warrant an expectation of their early revival, we would
even offer employment to unemployed artisans, at a
distance from their present residence, on some great
national work to be undertaken. 13y way of example
we will suggest that the Ship canal to Portsmouth,
which was suggested two years ago, and which, it
was admitted, would be productive of so much benefit
to the commercial interests of this kingdom, should
be undertaken at the public expellee ; and that every
man unable to find employment elsewhere, should be
offered it on this work, at a rate of wages moderate in
amount, but preferable to want. Every man can dig,
and wheel a barrow—or would soon be able to do
either ; and the country might thus derive an exten-
sive and lasting benefit from the labour of those on
whom large sums are now expended without any re-
turn. We only throw out this hint with a view of
showing that public utility might be united with public
bounty, in the relief of the suffering workmen of the
manufacturing districts.

A Sunday Paper, distinguished for the indelicacy
of its articles, made yesterday a most scandalous at-
tack upon the public Press. It dared to insinuate,
because only one of the Daily Papers had pub-
lished the circumstances which were brought to light
in a recent case at Marlborough-street, that the whole
of the respectable Journals of this metropolis had been
bought—or that the Gentlemen who report for them
had concealed from the Editors the particulars of the
examination for the sake of a few pounds. An insi-
nuation, more base in its nature, could not have been
made—nor does the practice of the Public Press in
this town warrant' it in the smallest degree. The
Press fearlessly discloses all cases of villainy with the
most severe impartiality, and the circumstance of a
delinquent being in a station of society above the
common herd, generally renders an exposure by its
means more certain, and more unsparing to the feelings
of the individual. But cases may and do occur of a
nature to render their publication highly injurious to
public morals, and in which the criminality of the in-
dividual, however deserving of universal detestation,
and the stigma of public exposure, ought, from a
regard to the interests of society, to receive its merited
punishment by personal inflictions, rather than by
means which, however corrective they might be to
people of less profligacy, would be disregarded by
one so lost to every principle as such a criminal must
be; and would be disgusting to persons of proper
feelings and habits. The case alluded to was most
properly excluded from the columns of most of the
Papers in London, and it was not because their Re-
porters did not put the Editors in possession of the
circumstances, or that they wished to screen the object of
the case, that those particulars were not published; but
because the Editors did not choose to pollute their
columns by any matter of so infamous a character, and
thereby to diffuse a poison through society at large.
The Editor of a Paper has a most important and sa-
cred duty to perform. lie knows the influence which
the diurnal Press has upon society, and ought not
for the sake of avoiding an imputation of venality, to
admit matter unfit for chaste minds to peruse, or to
sully the pages of his paper with that which can only
shock and disgust. We, for ourselves, shall con-
tinue to exercise that discretion, notwithstanding.the
insinuation or example of less delicate cotamporaries ;
and we do so from a conviction that the cause of
virtue may be better promoted by omitting some eases,
than by publishing the particulars of all which occur
at the police offices of this metropolis.