The Sun.
London, England, 1826-02-25 00:00:00

TIIE LONDON JOURNALS.
DAILY

Ifg#racts front the Morning Papers, Feb. 25, 1826

[MORNING nititA,L9.]
At a period when the commercial embarras-
meats of the country arc such as must in their na-
ture materially affect the revenue, if not en-
danger the payment of his dividends to the pub-
lic creditor, the wiseacres of the Common Coun-
cil have thought proper to hold a meeting for the
purpose of petitioning Parliament for a reduction
of The public taxes. Now this is an instance of
absolute wisdom which we should hardly have
expected even from the corporate body. Would
any of these good people, if they had certain
debts to pay, and certain other expellees to pro-
vide for, just at the moment that part of their
means had failed, think of relinquishing a good
part of the remainder ? It is no small aggrava-
tion of the folly of such a proceeding, that it
came from people resident at the seat of Govern-
ment ; and of people who must daily and hourly
witness the evil they thus endeavour to increase.
At any rate it would have heeu prudent, not to
say decent, to have waited till the Chancellor of
the Exchequer had opened his financial plans and
means to the country. The Ministers, we suspect,
would be quite as glad as the corporate body
would be just now to be able to reduce two or
three of the unpopular taxes. Men in power know
well enough the advantage of being able to throw
out a tub to the whale but they know too that
there are those among the corporate hotly who
would he glad enough to lead them into a Mr&
culty, and then turn round and laugh at and up-
braid them for their pains. The Government is
beset with difficulties enough at this moment,
without having them enhanced by the superficial
ha mgtuiti and shortsighted policy of the pseudo-
Sts testnen of Qucerthithe. The first duty of the
Government is to keep the credit of the country
unimpaired by an inviolable faith with the public
creditor. If this country would have wars and
debts—or supposing, if they please, that it could
not avoid them, it is in vain for the corporate
body first to raise statues to the memory of those
who carried on and incurred thorn, and after that
to flinch from the consequences.

paw r m Es.]
The manner in which Mr. Canning stood for-
ward last night, for the double purpose of vindi-
cating his friend, and claiming to share with him
in the responsibility of the measures censured,
saes such us Jo nttrnet the universal admiration
of the llouse—one Honourable Member, per-
haps, alone excepted. Not that we suppose
that Learned Gentleman to be at all deficient in
taste or judgment ; but few can stop to admire
the weapon while they are smarting under the
tiriauncl : and Mr. Caneing's eloquent defence
of Mr. tinskisson, was of that kind which leaves
stings in the mind of the hearers.—Another fine
and iltriking part of his speech was that in which,
speaking of Mr. Pitt, with a veneration only short
of idolatry, he yet claimed the freedom not to
tread in his footsteps, where, indeed, those steps
were not voluntarily taken by the great states-
man of that troubled day. We may wonder at
the skill, the dexterity, and self-command with
AV high he moved in a pyritous and slippery path,
but we should not ourselves tread awry,' merely
that we might imitate him, where there is nothing
to render our own footing insecure. If Mr. Pitt
imposed the Bank Restriction, it was in a mo-
went of peril and alarm from external and incur
real hostility, and amid difficulties and dangers
which there, were no other means to avert. We
may pay a sincere tribute of applause to the re-
sources of a t4►reat mind struggling with such dif-
ficulOes, and may yet resolve to adopt no Si-
milar measure' under the pressure of a less impe-
rious necessity.

[MORNING CIIRONICLE.I
Mrs Ellice's motion fmr an inquiry with respect
to the silk trade has been lost, after a discussion
of two nights, by a majority of 222. to 40. The
debate has effected a triumph to Ministers, who
certainly have not a little reason to complain of
the practices of the practical men, us they are
called, who, after besieging Parliament and the
Treasory, year after year, for a free trade, and
the abolition of all prohibitory duties, when
their desires are complied with, turn round, and
without ceremony reproach Miuisters for the
very measures which they themselves demanded.
Mr, Ifuskisson and Mi. Canning both availed
themselves very successfully of the opening which
the inconsistency of their opponents gave them.—
Indeed, Mr. Iluskisson's speech was one of the
ablest ever delivered in Parliament. The sup
porters or the motion completely failed in
their charge against Ministers, for proceed.
in in the work of setting free the coin.
'fierce of the country ; Ministers succeeded
in proving that they had not done too much ; but
unfortumitely for them, they are open to a very
different accuantion of not having done enough.
The trade,, which tegulates the profits of every
other--the trade in Corn, remains subject to re-
strictions imposed Hugely to put money in the
pockets of the men, in whose hands the go-
vernment of this country is placed. Ministers
have promised to open this trade which is of
infinitely more importance than any other ;
but their •hands are yet tied. Our masters,
it seems,. are yet refractory ; and the per-
formance of the promise, given by Ministers,
is postponed to another year. So much for
ihe hills of omission' of Ministers. But Messrs.
'Ellice, Williams, tend Baring, placed themselves
in a state of opposition to all principles. Mr.
Baring, in particular, had a most difficult part
to play between his advocacy of a free trade in
grain, anti his opposition to it free trade in silk.
The arguments urged by him against the change
in the silk trade would apply, were the Corn
Latin; not in force ; and thus it appears, though
he would protect the manufacture of silk from
foreign competition, he
would not protect the ma.
nufacture of corn. Hut as the cheapness of the
manufacture is not the consideration which deter.,
mines hito—us, according to him, the corn growers
ought to be forced to purchase home.made silks,
though a hundred per cont. dearer than Foreign

Si ks—we are at a toss to see why he should not
force the Silk Manufacturer to purchase all his
corn from the home grower, without refOence to
price. We wish to have it understood, that in
arguing against these doctrines, which would in-
sulate every kingdom, and even every province
of the same kingdom, we by no means advocate
the sudden destruction of the means of subsist-
tence of a large class of the population. But the
precautions called' for by humanity in effectiug
any changes, and the principles advocated by the
supporters of the Motion, are perfectly distinct.

[TUB REPIIESENTATIVE.I
Mr. Ellice's motion for taking into cOnsidera-
tion the numerous petitions which have been laid
upon the table of the House of Commons against
the projected alterations in the silk trade, brought
on a much more interesting discussion than might
have been anticipated on a mere insulated ques-
tion of commercial policy. With great dexterity
and ability Mr. Huskisson laid bold of the op.
portunity thus presented to him of explaining the
principles of the new system which he advocates.
We admit that in unfolding his views he displayed
great talents, and a consummate acquaintance with
his subject. Yet there is one circumstance
which we cannot help regretting, as it tends to
weaken the force of -what he advanced in the de-
bate; we feel sorry that he should have made
such a copious use of the argumentum ad hami-
nem; n weak argument even in a personal
question between two individuals'; but utterly,
worthless on a matter of general policy affect-
ing the public. W hat Mr. Baring or Mr. anybody
else thought or asserted in 1816 ; or what was
asked for in any petitions presented at any pre-
vious period, can in truth make nothing either
for or against the principles which have been
discussed in the present debate ; and we certainly
wish, if we may be allowed to criticise so 'elo-
quent and masterly a display of acumen in corn.
mercial affairs, as the Honourable Member exhi-
bited in his speech, that he had devoted less of
his attention to topics which can be considered nt
best but extraneous. We have no taste for this
species of bush-fighting : it may for a moment
prove interesting to the excited feelings of the
hearers ; but it is that part of his powerful
speech which will create the least sensation in the
country. We regret thin circumstance still the
more, as it naturally called forth from Mr. Baring
last night an attempt at a personal retort ;
uneasy tinder the taunts which had been
thrown. out against, him, he endeavoured to reta-
liate, and attempted to slew that the Pre-
sident of the Board of Trade had been guilty
of more inconsistency than could justly be
laid to his own charge. Which of the parties
had the best of this species of argument we
have not at this late hour leisure to inquire. But
in truth it matters little what the opinions or the
conduct of either of the parties may have been at
previous periods. If they were wrong before,
consistency in error will not make them right now.
The man who discovers his mistake and steps
frankly forward to acknowledge his error, thews
infinitely more intellect, as well as more manli.
ness, than he who perseveres in an erroneous sys-
tem because he has once adopted it.

rnitITISII PRENS..I
The Combined Provincial Deputation that has
arrived hi town for the purpose of soliciting Go.
'eminent for an issue of Exchequer bills, had an
interview with Lord Liverpool yesterday morning,
at Fife House. We understand that Ministers
again declared, unequivocally and distinctly, to
the parties assembled, that they adhered to the
deter►ninatiun alrea►dy expressed in Parliament
end elsewhere, to decline acceding to the soli.
citations of the mercantile and manufacturing
community. However, the First Lord of
the Treasury and his Colleagues renewed slut
pression of their opinion that the Bank possessed
the power of making the advances required, and
it was considered that an intimation was given
that the influence of Ministers would again be
used to overcome the objections made by the
Bank Directors to a compliance with the► wishes
of the Cabinet. Should the accommodation be
eventually granted, it will be extended without
reserve to all parties, whether merchants or manu-
facturers, who can give the security of articles of
merchandise.