The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-03 00:00:00

FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.

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GLOBE.—The Cabinet cooks, who have set before us the
various made-dishes of the Queen's speech, deserve credit for
diversifying the dainties out of such limited raw materials.
The real subjects of congratulation amount, in reality,
mainly, to two—and these two may be briefly designated
as the results of a conquest, and a confiscation. That
we have conquered peace and " indemnity " for our-
selves, and free trade for every body, by our Chinese
expeditions, is undoubtedly matter for congratulation. Only
these proceedings were inchoate under another administra-
tion ; and most enormously was that administration black-
ened for them by some members of the present. Most
piously—most pusillanimously—did the Gladstone and Gra •
ham thereon perorate. They have thought better of it, and
are content to have conquered trade from China, maugre
their deprecationS ; and even, after straining at the gnat of
China, to swallow the camel—of Sinde. We confess a pa-
triotic satisfaction in showing the world that no English
party are quite such fools and cowards as these men then
affected themselves—

As if hypocrisy and nonsense
Had got the advowson of their conscience—
and we feel a further satisfaction moreover, superior to

party jealousies, in the proud position Great Britain
has been the first amongst nations to take in this
treaty with China. We mean the position of true mag-
nanimity, and true policy, so strongly contrasted with
all the miserable annals of Portuguese, Dutch, French,
and English mercantile reciprocal injuries and pro-
scriptions in those remote markets—exposing all Europe
to the hatred and contempt which the traders of each nation
poured on each other. It is a great, and hitherto unrivalled
glory, that the Sovereign of this country can say—
" Throughout the whole course of my negotiations with the
Government of China, I have uniibrmly disclaimed the
wish for any exclusive advantages. It has been
my desire that equal favour should be shown to
the industry and commercial enterprise of all na-
tions." Passing from conquest, we come to confiscations—
the income-tax. These two operations (together with some-
what more favourable seasons) have chiefly, or wholly,
made up the real matter for public congratulation. If
"several important branches of trade and manufactures" are
in an "improved condition," it is owing (coincidently with
better seasons) to the conquest of a new market, of important
extent, and indefinite profit. We say of indefinite profit, be-
cause it is not clear (and the royal speech has made it no clearer)
what equivalent returns we shall be able to obtain, directly
or indirectly, for our newly-extended exports to China.
The Chinese, no more than any other nation, can defray
any vastly increased extent of purchases in the precious
metals; the question, therefore, is, can we obtain
and consume a vast increase of Chinese products ; or carry
a vast increase of them to others, in payment for other
things which we want ourselves? Unless the Chinese
can supply our wants, it will hardly pay long to supply
theirs. We regret that the speech and debate throw
no light on anything concerning tea and sugar. Conquest
and confiscation then have made up the revenue, as the
former has helped commerce. Without the unreckoned-on
windfall from the former, and the professedly unexpected
amount derived from the income inquisition, the commercial
policy of the present Ministry would have increased the
deficiency of the revenue. Let us thank God, then, and
make no boast. But the Prime Minister, it seems, will boast.
Sir Robert Peel says—" I hope that, looking at the general
state of affairs, the Government may be considered justified
in stating that a considerable improvement has taken place ;
and that, upon all the matters referred to in the speech, in
regard to our foreign relations, in regard to our trade,
and the state of our revenue, the Government may
fairly present itself before this House, and before the
country, confident of having fulfilled the expectations
it had held out, and of not having failed in any of its duties."
The Government held out no expectations that any measures