The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-15 00:00:00

51fit

LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1845.

We trust it may be very long ere we have to apply
to any lesson of political wisdom, that the example of
France may teach us, the well-known maim—"fas
est et ab hoste doceri." In a much more friendly
spirit, however, we may safely argue that there can
be no harm in our taking some leaves out of the
book of France, when their contents happen to be
applicable to the case of this country, and the
best mode of dealing with its most important inte-
rests. In our pages of yesterday we had to transfer
no less than three of such leaves into our
own journal. The first was a statistical and well
arranged list of the French navy, effective and not
effective—its actual and its growing amount, and the
extended elements of its increase. The seconi was
the passing of a Bill through the Chamber of De-
puties for the truly national purpose of protecting
the ancient monuments of France. The third was
the somewhat unusual event in the French Legis-
lature of the presentation of a petition signed by
25,000 people. Its prayer was for an inquiry into
the condition of the working classes. .

To begin, first, with the last but not the least im-
portant of these matters, it must be owned that Lord
J. Rosana. has already anticipated it by his forthcom-
ing motion on tho same subject—the sufferings,of our
industrial classes. The proceeding of M. RoLusr,
however, may servo to fortify the case which his
Lordship will have to urge upon the House of Com-
mons, by showing that similar evil influences are
seriously affecting in act one of the most meritorious
as well as largest communities in our social system.
If our own opinion or advice might avail, it would
be given in the way of exhortation to the French as
well as to the English statesman, to persevere in the
design they have respectively avowed. There can be
no question but that one of the most dangerous aspects
which a great country like England or France can
exhibit, is, an accumulating aggregate of unemployed
or of miserably underpaid labour. When able-bodied
labour cannot realize wages on which it is possible to
subsist itself, and those who depend immediately and
entirely Open its efforts, it very naturally determines
that it may as well cease to work, whilst industry
fails to procure any better return than the pittance
grudgingly given at all times to unemployed pau-
perism. But when able-bodied labour, ready and
anxious for the employment it seeks, can obtain none,
then by as natural a process, though it be a more un-
fortunate one of reasoning, it arrives at the conclusion
that what it cannot obtain on the fair conditions it is
prepared to fulfil, that is of hard working, it must take,
to satisfy the primary duty as well as appetite.--
thatof self-preservation. Now, the sooner you can turn
masses of men from the habitual, though unconscious,
study of these political ethics, which determine in the
running of a vicious parallel between the rights of
labour and the liabilities of property, the better.
For when these masses are left in the full leisure for
indulging in these perilous communings of compul-
sory want with repudiated industry, the disorganisa-
tion of society is at hand. The only chance of grap-
pling with so perilous a disease is one of anticipatory
treatment—preventive rather than remedial. We
would implore Lord Jon& RUSSELL to bring to
this great social question, involving the solution, as
it does, of one of the most complicated, and yet
most frequently recuPring political problem, the whole
resources, information, and energy of his gifted and
sagacious mind. In M. ROLLIN'S hands we have no
doubt, looking to the advantageous light in which his
talents have been already developed to the public,
that the same comprehensive theme will be very ably
treated. It is greatly to the interest of European
civilisation, and the peace and repose of all its States,
that these topics should be thoroughly and dispassion-
ately discussed in the Legislatures of two of
its mightiest kingdoms, with a view to the
devising of some scheme for providing per-
manent guarantees against the fearful tenden-
cies of unoccupied and pauperised industry. It is a
disturbing force in the working machinery of our
exbyisgtiinvigngsotcoi ail
t system,itsne w e
e ssahriyc h, if you
evolution
within cannot a
scontrol
iglienienreavtietdablyillaaenqnuiihreilaaten
tehxepelonsgiivnee pwoiwtheirn,
ltihmaittso,newe
which it has hitherto revolved.

With regard to the Bill to protect the ancient
monuments of their country, the Chamber of Deputies
has certainly had the start of the British Parliament.
And yet what country abounds with more numerous
or ennobling reminiscences of its past history, of this
kind, than Great Britain ? In what country
shall we find grey ruins
.and sci Ipturerl.
effigies, the associations and originals connected
with which are better calculated to inspire
the present generation —especially the younger
brtmehes of it—with, more generous emulation of

lofty virtues, grand qualities and high achievements,
love of country, devotion to its glory, attachment to
its institutions, than our own ? Alas, that we must
also ask, in what country are these relics of visible
and tangible history so rapidly disappearing, so
scandalously neglected, so apathetically regarded by
successive Governments, so wantonly outraged by the
bad taste, bad feeling, or profound ignorance of indi-
viduals, and parochial, and municipal, and ecclesias-
tical authorities ? Some of the most classical,
albeit the most guilt-stained ground of this ancient
metropolis--foundations, walls, and turrets, and chapels,
state-chambers and state-dungeons in the Tower of
London, the tombs of royal and baronial guests, or
prisoners—have been rudely dismantled, levelled to the
dust, and are at this moment in the course of re-
moval, and with them, haply, the very bones of some
of England's best descended nobles, to make room for
barracks and other such modern desecrations. There
is no Board to protect the dust that should have been
sacred, as impressed with the traditionary footsteps
of a majestic chivalry : but there is a Board of re-
spectable Commissioners, with a Noble Chairman at

heir head too, fur the direction of such national gel-

leries, and national columns, and national fountains,
and national anomalies of all kinds, as disgrace the na-
tional folly called Trafalgar-square.
The list of the French Navy is a text which, we

trust, in the language of our Dissenting friends, the
Government "will improve." We have no complaint
to make against the Ministry of France for the gigan-
tic advance they have given to the French marine.
It is astounding, but it does them infinite honour.
All we are interested at this moment to demand in
reference to it is, that our own Admiralty adminis-
trators will not be above learning from this remarkable
document, how time is to be taken by the 4'c,reloa k,
and all possible exigencies are to be met, and there-
fore disposed of, by timely preparation. With one-
half of the foresight and alacrity displayed by the
Baron MACKAW, and the department over which he

presides, applied to the means, the navy, and the
material at the command of our own Admiralty, and
to the cares of preparation, combination, and disposal,
the office of naval censorship, so beneficially exercised
by Sir C. NAPIER,
_would become extinct.

We have received Madrid journals of the 7th inst.
On that day the Chamber of Deputies resumed the dis-
cussion on the budget of receipts for 1845, which was
fixed at 1,226,000,000 reals (12,260,0000 One of the
articles in the estimates of revenue imposes a tax of
300,000,000 reals (3,000,0002) on landed property,
which Senor BRAVO MURILLO proposed to reduce to
200,000,000 reals, but the amendment was rejected by a
majority of 60 to 46. A division of the Royal Guard
was to leave Madrid on the 13th for Barcelona, and the
QUEEN, it was understood, would proceed to the same
place about the 25th of this month.
On the 7th the Bourse opened with a considerable ad-
vance, but heavy sales afterwards caused some depression.
The Three per Cents. closed at 34i- for cash, and 35 at
GO days ; the Five per Cents. at 2.5 i at 60 days ; the
Provisional Debt at 8i at GO days; and the Debt without
Interest at 81 at GO days.

The French Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday corn-
menced the discussion on the Northern Railroad Bill
with branches to Calais and Dunkirk, and a line from
St. Quentin to Creil. This Bill was opposed by M. DE
RUMILLY, who contended that the execution of such
works ought not to be entrusted to companies, but be
conducted by the State and afterwards leased out. M.
GARNIER PAGES took the same view of the Bill, and
thought the State should have all the lines under their
control, merely letting them to companies on certain
conditions. The general discussion closed with these
two speakers, and the discussion on the first clause was
going on at the hour of post. Must of the Paris
journals have articles on the Maynooth question.
The National praises the liberal policy pursued
by Sir ROBERT PEEL. The Journal des Debuts also
commends the new Tory policy. "The measures," it
says, " which are proposed by the English Government
are based upon the principle which has long dominated
in France—viz., the neutrality of the State in religious
matters. They are based on the principles of philosophy
of the eighteenth century, which were consecrated by
the Revolution of 1789, and which are even the founda-
tion of the constitution of our country. On these
grounds, therefore, we can only express our entire ap-
probation; but we claim the liberty of saying as a tii,-
torical fact, which cannot be contested, that these mea-
sures are a perfect revolution in the spirit of English le-
gislation, and that these principles are completely op-
, posed to those on which the constitution of Great Britain
has hitherto rested. We must not forget that the revo-
lutions of England were religious revolutions, whilst
those of France were philosophic revolutions ; that, on
the one side, it was the principle of Protestant supre-
macy that triumphed ; and, on the other, that of the
equality of all religions in the eye of the law. This is
the position that English Protestantism now abandons.
The State which, since the time of the Reformation, had
become Protestant, is now become laic, and the French
principle, or rather the social principle of the separation
of temporal and spiritual power, is now admitted into
British legislation."
The following are miscellaneous extracts from the
papers:—

We read in the Constitutionnel:—" The Ministeral jour-
nals have made a great noise about the treaty of peace with
Morocco; but the following fact will show how much im -
portance ought to be attached to this treaty, and warrants
our representing it as a mere lure to obtain a favourable opi-
nion from the public. We have noticed the journey of K.
Horace Vernet, who was sent by order of the Government to
paint a picture of the battle of Isly ; but he has met with an
obstacle he very little expected. On arriving at Ouchda, the
caid nearest the frontier informed him that he must return,
as he, the caid, had received an express order from his Go-
vernment not to suffer any European to enter the territories
of Morocco. M. Horace Vernet offered him a bribe of
12,000 f. to allow him to pass, but this was refused. Conse-
quently the artist was obliged to return as he went."
The Moniteur Algerien of the sth has an account of a
splendid ball at Algiers on the 30th ult., given by the Gover-
nor-General and his lady. The ball was opened by his Royal
Highness the Duke de Montpensier and the daughter of
Marshal Bugeaud, and the dancing continued till daylight
with no other interruption than the supper, which consisted
of all the luxuries and delicacies that Europe and Africa
could supply.
The France, in allusion to the rumour that the Queens
of England and Spain, the King and Queen of Naples, and
the King of Holland, are about to visit Paris, takes upon itself
to assert, as far as their Neapolitan Majesties are concerned,
there is not the slightest truth in the rumour.
The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on Tues•
day, at 86f. 25c.; the New Loan, at 86f. 65c. ; the Five per
Cents., at 121 f. 15c. ; Orleans Railroad shares, 1,223 f. 75c. ;
Rouen, 1,087 f. 50c. ; Havre, 876 f. 25c. ; Avignon, 1,045 f. ;
Basle, 270 f. ; Spanish Passives, gi.A.
The subjoined are the prices of shares in the new
lines:—

Orleans and Bordeaux, 227 E 50c. prem. ; Boulogne, 165 f. ;
ditto, Troyes, and Montereau, 77f. 50c. ; Paris and Lyons
(Lafitte), 18f. 50c. ; ditto (Calon), If. 50c. ; ditto (Ganneron),
15f. ; Northern Line (Lafitte), 311. 25c. ; ditto (Rosamel),
10f. ; Tours and Nantes (Mackenzie), 12f. 50c. ; ditto
(Drouillard), par; ditto (O'Neill), 121. 50c. ; ditto (Jacques
Lefevre), par; Lyons and Avignon (Lecointe), 27f.; ditto
(Talabot),32f. 50c. ; ditto (Com pagnie Meridionale), 12f. 50c. ;
Bordeaux and Toulouse (Mackenzie), 5f.; ditto and Cette
(Espeleta), 15f. ; Cieile and St. Quentin, If. 25c.; Paris
and Strasburg (Ganneron), 12f. 50c. ; Dijon and Mul-
hausen, sf.