The Sun.
London, England, 1821-07-04 00:00:00

finally on its character—on the degree of
utility or inutility which may be expected
from it—or on the benefits or the mischiefs
which may arise from its proceedings.—lt
was very justly observed by the ATTORNEY-
GENERAL, that it would be unwise to put an
end to the proceedings of the Association, be-
fore the nature of the publications which-were
the subjects of them was known ; and that it
would surely be much wiser to wait until the
libels were seen, and until the mode in which
the proceedings were conducted had been ascer-
tained. To this sound' and sober argument it is
impossible for any man of sober and sound. un-
derstanding to object. Let us wait, then, until
some of the parties indicted by the Society shall
Have been put upon their trial—until the quality
and character of their alleged offences shall have
been legally investigated and decided—and until
the manner and means of obtaining evidence
against them, and of the ulterior proceedings of
the Association, shall have been fully disclosed,
rather than precipitately pronounce, either that
the conduct and transactions of an Institution,
founded by, and now comprising amongst its
members, many of the most distinguished and
respectable of our fellow-subjects, are mis-
chievous and wicked, or, that they are, on the
other hand, undoubtedly proper, laudable, and
wise. In the mean time, we may observe, that
it is certainly to be deeply lamented, that the
state of the country, or of parties, is such, that
any given portion of the people should think it
necessary, or should feel themselves called upon, to
associate for the purPoge of waging legal warfare
upon another portion. But it is equally to be
lamented that there is a necessity for having any
armed force—whether regular troops or volun-
teer associations—for the preservation of public
tranquillity—that there is a necessity for penal
laws—for Judges, prisons, or penitentiaries—or
for such awful public spectacles as that which
took place this morning at the Old Bailey,—the
execution of six wretched human beings, whose
lives had becoine forfeited to the outraged laws
of their country. It cannot be denied that the
licentious audacity of an infidel and seditious
press called loudly for some efficient and whole-
some check. Whether the Constitutional Asso-
ciation be the most proper and expedient engine
that could have been devised for this salutary
purpose, it may be difficult at present to deter-
mine. -It is certainly preferable, at any rate,
to the appointment of a Censorship, or to the en-
actment of any new laws against the liberty of
the press. Even The Times, the most virulent
and abusive enemy of the Association, too often
betrays political feelings and views which fully
account for its abhorrence of a Constitutiona/ So-
.
coety, and which The Times would be glad to
disavow in its more guarded moments. Of this
kind is a passage in its leading article of this
morning, in which, speaking of the QUEEN, it
says, " We should beg leave to ask the friends
of the ancient order of things," &c. The Times,
therefore, which endeavours plausibly to found
its innovating principles and dangerous doctrines
and suggestions, upon the ancient practice and
theou of the 'Constitution, and upon immemorial
usages, on this occasion, as on many others, in-
cautiously drops the mask, when it ironically
designates the " supporters of the cause of legi-
timacy,"—the advocates for the preservation of
the good order and tranquillity of the state—and
of our inestimable institutions,—as " the friend,
of the ancient order of things !"—The Times, then,
is no advocate for the continuance of the old
order of things ; but zealously labours, no doubt,
for the introduction of a new order, under which
blasphemy and treason may run riot with im-
punity ! No wonder he laments the hard lot of
his fellow-labourers, DOLBY, CA 11 LTLE, and
BENBOW !—No wonder he execrates the authors
of the persecution raised against these good,
innovating creatures !—His tears are sympathetic !

His ATAJESTY left town, on the breaking up
of the Council, for Hampton Court.
The Times, in his peculiarly elegant and novel
phraseology, announces this morning, that though
the powers and functions of the KING and.
QUEEN are different, they are " both alike liable
to be crowned !" What a pity it is that the
Editor of the leading Journal of Europe and the
juvenile Students of MURItAY'S Grammar, are
not " all alike liable" to correction for the
-grosser and more heinous order of offences
against the purity of the English: language !
Sure we are that The Times produces enow of
characteristic examples, on which to rest the
claim of its Editor as an eligible candidate for
the honours of the birch !

Mr.-S. WHITBREAD very sagaciously said, last
night, " that if, instead of being called The
Bridge-street Constitutional Association for Oppos-
ing Disloyal Principles, that Association had re-
ceived the title of ‘ The Birchin-lane Society,'
he was sure the names of many distinguished in-
dividuals to whom he had alluded would never
have been seen in connection with it !"—liow
profound !—What .a knowledge of men and
mannersof cause and effect ! !--Lif a Treatise
on Bi cwing were published with no other title
than that of " Treatise," Mr. WHITBREAD
will venture to say, that it is a hundred to one if
he would ever think of reading it ! !!—As the
Scotch say, we ourselves shrewdly suspect, that
if, instead of " Whitbread and Co.'s Entire,"
there were painted on the walls of a pot-house,
" Chemical Compounds sold here," the landlord
would find few thirsty customers curious enough
to inquire for his liquors. Even the formidable
Bonassus, we are seriously inclined to think,
would fail of his attractions, if announced merely
as '‘• An Animal to be seen alive," and without
the imposing recommendation of being graciously
" patronized by her Majesty the QUEEN," whose"
welMcnown taste for, and acknowledged skill in
judging of, all foreign curiosities remarkable for
their uncommon-size and qualities, certainly cob-
fer peculiar eclat upon the wondrous creatures
whom she takes under her protection
Mr. RUSSELL, the Stage Manager of Drury-
lane Theatre, has resigned, and his absence is
at present supplied by Mr.llr sT oN.—(dferald.)