The Sun.
London, England, 1821-01-22 00:00:00

Fait- SUN.

MR. EDITOR—At the interesting period when,
a new,Year opens before us, we naturally cast a
retrospective glance upon the principal events,
that have chequered the Year that is ptzssed, and
endeavour. to anticipate those that are likely to
occur during the probably eventful course of the
present period of time. If we look back to the
past, the prospect is cheerless, and calculated to
till the reflecting mind with well-grounded ap-
prehensions, Nearly banished from France, if
not, indeed, wholly extirpated by Buonaparte,
Jacobinism seems, to hive sought refuge upon
the hitherto loval shores of Britain, ~vbere,kindly
received by-a few evil-disposed individuals, and
warmed
,by tile genial breath of disaffection and

irreligion, it has taken deep root, though under
the novel appellation of Radical Reform. The
fatal effects ever produced by its pestilential pre-
-I..cuice, were felt, from one end of the Empire to
the other, and its destructive venom was
gradually but deeply infused into the social
body, weakening its energies, and, perhaps, pre
paring its,final dissolution. Emboldened by im-
punity„, and encouraged by success, it soon as-
'sumed a more daring attitude, and polonger con-
cealing. its fatal ,purposes under the deceitful
mask of patriotism, it hoisted at once the stand-
ard of irreligion and of sedition, and rebellion,
and boldly. avowed that its final object was the
destruction of the Throne,and the .altar, and the
demoralization. of society. Through the medium
of a licentious Press, the Christian. Religion, to
whose pure and holy tenets .Europe stands in-
debted, for its superior civilization, was Openly
attacked ; and here, as in France thirty years
ago, sarcasms, Inisrepresentations, and sophistry
were employed to inspire the present generation
with contempt for those doctrines and those in-
stitutionswhich had ever beeii venerated by our

forefathers. The transition from this, contempt
of the IaWS of God and that of the institutions of
men is simple and natural, and, therefore, almost
inevitable. When the barriers which Religion
opposes.-to the violent passions of men are once
broken down, the whole fabrick of social order is
unavoidably shaken, and threatened with pro-
bable destruction.. When men are once brought
to riclicule.:what they. had, been taught was di-
vine, they very soon begin to despise what they
know to be only human. Itence it can be no
matter of surprise that the shafts of irreligion
were soon levelled at" the, existing Government of
the. Country; and at that venerable Constitution
under the influence of which England .has attain-
ed .its present power and opulence. In vain do
those Apestle, of :sedition veil their baneful pur-
poses-under 014_, deceitful and captivating garb of
patriotism, and proclaim that they wish only to
restore this Constitution to its original state, of
purity and per fection ; the measures .which they
adopt, the immoral and antisocial doctrines
which they proclaim; the changes which they
propose, all prove that they wish, not the re-
pair, but the total destruction.of this respectable
fabrick.

If this picture of the progress of radicalism,

(luring the year.that is passed, fill the reflecting
mind with vvell grounded apprehensions, the
Intureseems equally threatening and terrific. The
heavy clouds which have collected around the
.perliap:s.foretell an appriiach-
in storm which the vessel of the state, assailed
as it is' in every direction, niqy•not be eventually.
able, to . weather., Amidst the violent gusts of
irreligion and rebellion,itstands as it were alone,
without one steady hand to direct . its
.course. 7----
n vain do we,. seek for one faint gleam of hope
to,cheer. our drooping, spirits;- no tranquillizing
• sound reaches our ear, no friendly beacon meets
our eyes,-;, we hear around us
,only . the vocifera-,
tiaras, of...Saditiio.n., we perceive only the fatal
shoals of, rebellion.
If it be desirable to, view, at once the whole,
danger by'..which.. we,.are threatened, -it. is of no,
less importance toconteniplateit with that calm
stc;ldiness Which alone can secure,the possibility
'of escape. it. is, only when the -full • extent of
an evil is known, that any, adequate remedy can
•

be prepared : hence it is better, in this, respect,
to-see things-worse than they really are, than to
sink into a secutity, into which the evil disposed
would gladly plunge. the Government, but which
would inevitably- tend to facilitate the prosecu-
tion of :heir deep laid plans, and thereby Ind to
the most dangerous, if not the most fatal conse-
quences. As' the Safety of a vesselldepends upon
the cordial assistance of. every one of the crew,
so that of the State must be secured by the co-
operation of every indiNidual who' claims the "en-
viable appellation of patriot. In days such as
those that seem now approaching, all spirit of
Party should be laid aside. The question now
is not whether one set of men, or another, shall
govern the State it is whether anarchy is to pre-
vail °ler social order ; it is'whether the hitherto
peaceful plains-of England, are now to be wasted
by tire and SW Or (1, and dyed with the blood, -or
strewed, with the mangled. bedies.of the inhabi-
tatits. With-the exception of the States Gene-
ral, of Fr:tnce in 1789, no set of men have ever
met to diScharge duties more important, and.
Tinder circumstances more awful, tlin those
which the Member§ of the, House of GinnmoriS
will be called upon to perform in the approach-
ing Session. Every welt-wisher to Iris Country
must devoutly ,hope, that all of- them are duly
impressed with the influence that the debates in
that house must necessarily have ,port the public'.
mind. Every well-wisher to his. Country Must
therefore hope, that no MeMber of the Senate
ill, by any rash and unguarded expression,
fan the flames that seem ready to burst forth
throughout the Kingdom. Upon the conscientious