The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-29 00:00:00

blar.chester and Birm... 40

---- ___
Ditto Quarters
Midland 100 l2B 1271,E 129...
Ditto New 2 .. ... 9141/2 9
Midland, Birm., Derby..-100 95
Newoarit te and Berwick 114 ...... 12N
North British

Northern and Eastern... 45.
Ditto 14 Shares 12%
:Norwich and Brandon... 8
Ditto, New Shares ... 1
Rugby
shrews., Wolverhamp.,
Dudley, and Birm 21,4 33'
South Eastern &Dover 3,3% 47lr, 46 47...
Ditto, New Shares .. . 4
Ditto No. 2.
south Wales
Trent Valley
Tork and North Midland 50
Ditto, Selby Scrip 2O
Ditto Extension

FRENCH RAILWAYS.
Boulogne and Amien5... 2
Great North. of France...
Paris and Lyons

JOINT STOCK BANKS.
London & Westminster. 20
Provincial of Ireland ... 25

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS
FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAT.
GLOBE.—The correspondence between the secre-
taries of the London Mission, and the french
Government, forms a curious supplement to the
dispatches and debates on Otaheite. Our opinion
on this question has uniformly been, that whilst
sound policy, and a comparative estimate of the in-
terests involved, alike forbade making its discussion a
subject of unnecessary irritation between the two
countries, it still less became Englishmen to hush up
or gloss over manifest facts from a fear that their
mention might be unpleasing to France. To those
who hold the latter opinion, indeed, whether private
individuals, journalists, or Cabinet Ministers, the cor-
respondence in question must be a most unwel-
come publication ; for it puts strong truths in
a clear light, and dashes aside, thy a few pungent
facts, a vast deal of diplomatic pomp and eloquent
eophistry by which the question has been obscured.
We will allow for the appeal of the London Mission
being called an ex-parte statement, for the short reply
of the French Minister does not enter into any of the
facts there detailed ; but it is one that refers to certain
events and occurrences in Otaheite, the contradiction
of which is easy if incorrectly cited. The Society's
memorial of 13th December may be divided into
three portions :-Ist. The Society's recapitulation of
its missionary labours up to 1836. 2. A Narrative
of the subsequent introduction of French influence,
and its effects on the island. 3. A Demand
for the relinquishment of the French Protectorate
on the grounds of justice and humanity. The first
cannot but be regarded as highly creditable to the
London Mission. No reasonable person can doubt
that the Otaheitans of 1796—sunk in superstition,
Tice, and ignorance, and, as we are there informed,
verging towards extinction from infanticide, human
sacrifices, and sanguinary feuds—were a complete
contrast to the same people in 1836. This is fair
ground for congratulatory reminiscence. A people of
considerable physical and moral capabilities (their
spirited resistance to the French during the
last year proves the former, the latter is
confirmed by the statements of all contemporary
observers) gradually introduced to civilisation
based on the foundation of Christianity, offers a
subject of congratulation to all well-wishers to the
human race, and is highly creditable to the So-
ciety by whose agency it was effected. In 1836
occurred the arrival of the two Catholic mis-
sionaries, and their expulsion under a law of the
island, " prohibiting passengers from landing with-
out permission from the Queen and governors."
This trenches on delicate ground, for the French have
always assumed that it was done at the instigation of
the agents of the Mission : this the latter deny, or
at least imply as much, and disclaim "all desire for a
restriction on the propagation of relgious opinions by
other Christian communities." 'We must take this
statement with some allowance, for it is in the nature
of things that these agents for the propagation of a
strict form of Protestantism could not look with com-
‘placency on the introduction of Roman Catholic doc-
trines, to say nothing of the risk of diminished social
and political influence, which weighs with all men
from diplomates to missionaries included. In 1839
a fine of '2,000 dollars was imposed by Captain
Dupetit Thouars, for injuries received by MM. Caret
and Laval, the expelled missionaries ; and in 1842-3,
the protectorate and sovereignty, following each
other, led to the destruction of our influence in Ota-
heite, the abandonment of the missionary schools, and
the other events of which we have lately heard much
by speeches, correspondence, and diplomatic notes.
'then came the demand for the withdrawal of the
French protectorate, made formally by Messrs.
Smith, Tidman, and Freeman, in the name of the
London Mission, on grounds of justice and humanity.
it is easy to smile at such a demand, the answer to
which was certain ; for we are far enough from a
state
of society in which the expressed wishes of a
body of religious teachers can outweigh the political
designs of a powerful nation. But perhaps each
party sustains its character herein the Mission,
strong in its spiritual functions, puts aside all po-
litical interests, and demands that the French eva-
cuate Otaheite on grounds of moral j usce
arid for the benefit of the islanders 11f. Guizot,
in his reply, strives with diplomatic finesse
to turn his opponents' position, and deduces
from sentiments "of humanity and toleration" therein
set forth, the startling conclusion, that " the mis-
sionaries will aid the authorities, charged to execute
the protectorate, in the work of civilisation, &c." An
emphatic disclaimer of this presumed co-operation on
the part of the Society closes the correspondence.
However ludicrous may seem this protocolling be-
tween a religious society and the Cabinet of France
to the worldly wise, some serious matter for reflection
is suggested by it to all thinking men. We will now
only indicate three points, the last of which has been
lately handled by some of our Contemporaries ; these
are—l. The theory of protectorates as developed in
practice at Otaheite. 2. The social prospects .of that
interesting island. 3. Thep olicy. of allowing re-
ligious bodies to conduct diplomatic correspondence
with foreign Powers. On each of these heads we
rtunity,
boPo to say something at a foto oPPQ