The Sun.
London, England, 1819-06-28 00:00:00

LITERARY REVIEW.

..4:t INVESTIGATION of the POLICY of NI I N ESTE It 3 .-...-

Pamphlet, pp. 73.

Tr is very seldom that a tract abounding with
so much knowledge. good sense, and candour has
fullen'tlithin our observation. We are told, in a
brief preface, or rather advertisement, that " the
greater part of the nark was written before the
close of the year 1817, but the poblicatton of it
Ns-as delayed by circumstances, in which the au-
thor only is interested." We beg leave to differ
Stith biro
.on that point, fur his observations are
so striking, so pertinent, so perspictious,and so
coosiocing, that if it had been brought forward
as soon as it was written, it triiish: have been at-
tetoled with more beneficial effects than since the
occasion !bat produced it has passed away. It is
addressed
.10 the Independent Electors of Great
Britain, ant teas intended to, present such facts
sand rea'iostingS to their miti.ls 'as were likely most
vronely to inflnence therm in the choice of rht it
Repirstot;tives at the Cieueral Election, which.
was thin put? Cll,llld has shsce ta%en,,place.—*--The
Author enters into au extensive csaminati,or of
the conduct of ,Nlinivers throng!' the whole of
that war, which at length was hrought to so glo-
rinas a cotichtionom, wily for this count; y,hot for
sit E'tiolwe, which the firm perseverance or Great
Britain has deliveted from oppression and probable
anarchy. Ile examiiies this interesting subject
with great a CIO ern' SS and has evi.lently qtnilifted
himself, hy reading, reflection, ants study, to form
a due est;m4,e of hemt igin and progress of the war,
as well as of ail matters of doMestic policy, and his
erg :ments in defence of their measures are clear,
dispassionate, and satisfactory. Among o:her to-
pics which have enabled Faction to delude Ignor-
ance, lie has fully justified the Suspension of the
ridbeas Corpits Act, and animadverted with truth
and energy on the dangyrous doctrines afloat, and
the endeavours that were certainly preparing in
order to overthrow the British Constitution, and
to introduce all the pernicious theories which led
to the downfall of the French Monarchy, and the
consequent horrors of its hideous It evolution.-
I,Ve understand that this work was written by
young Author, who is preparing himself for theher.
"NVe shall not mention the name that has been an-
nounced to us, because is e have not sufficient au-
thority, but, considering the great merit of the work
itself, we conceive that his name one lit not to he
a secret to the Ministers whose cause he has so
ably defended. We do not say this roofer any
idea that he wants their patronage, hut because
ave conceive that it is their interest as well as duty
to encourage li•erary powers and political know-
ledge, when they are exeocised in support of
truth, and for the adsan,age of the Country. It.
slick a young than had .come forward to former
times, he would have sought for in the recesses
of obscurity, and have found, encouragement for
his talents. The present Ministry are not thought
to be zealot's Patrons of the Press, and yet at no
time in the history of this Comory was a loyal
Press more necessary. Parliamentai y eloquence,
anti the wisest allinioistration of public affairs, ale
not sufficient to stem the torrent of JAC(:BINISM
threaters overwl.ielin the Cwintl y• In
all parts of the Empire the engines of democracy
are note: actively at Work. That there are many
loyal Journals t ltron-g hoot the United Kingdom
must be admitted, but there is hardly arty place to
be found where there is not, at least, an Opposition
N e spoiner, and others devoted to Jticobiriisin, too
well calcidated, openly, or insidiously, to instil
into the mieds of the lower orders the poison of
sCditioti. But to room to the wot k before us.
After an historical review of the chief events that
have occurred during the Fogless of the war, and
an impartial consideration of the measures adopted
by Ministers, the Author proceeds to the question
of Parliamentary Reform, upon which he reasons
with so much good sense, judgment, and acute-
ness, that we shall present his observations in the
foltowithg Extract, which forms the conclusion of
a work so honourable to his talents,. and which
affords a promising angury of the distinction that
be is likely to acquire, in the pursuit of a pro-
fession to which be has devoted himself, and of
which, we doobt not, that he will become a con-
spicuous ornament.

" Before a reform can be reasonably demanded, some ex-
isting abuse should be pointed out, which it would be sure to
redress; an abuse not merely in terms, but in fact, and in its
consequences. It has not been wool that by the present sys-
tem of representation any individual is injured or liable to in-
jury, or that any real demonstrable good to the Kingdom that
might be enjoyed is withheld. It has been said that a corrupt
Admiuistration is supported by the present House of Commons,
and that they would he removed and replaced by a better, or
more effectually checked in evil measures, ware the people
really represented in the body that conttouls them. But
this position assumes that which can never be granted :
that the ads of Government would be wiser if they were di-
rected by other men under other influence. As far as the
question can be elucidated by a reference to past times, this
argument for reform is nugatory; for at all periods since the
division of the State into parties, there has been an opposition
to Government of which the strength is a just criterion
of public opinion ; and it does not appear that when
the cry.for reform has been loudest, the adverse party has
ever been the must numerous.

!" If the happiness of the people be the end and aim of all
Govern►vents, it ought to he proved before a Constitution is
suffered to undergo a change which may produce evil, that
a❑ improvement ii► the condition of the great body of the
population is reasonably to be expected; neither ought the
prospect of it to consist merely in the harmony and concord of
abstract propositions. It should appear unquestiutably that if
an extension of rights be granted to any number of indivi•
duals, they will derive a rea! benefit from the concession,and
that it will conduce to the general good of the community
aitbout bringing evil or injury upon any part of it. In no
use system of ref6rin that bas been presented to the House.of
Commons, have these considerations been attended to. It
tors not appear that such towns as might receive the elective
franchise, would be more than nominally bettered in their
political condition. They possess at this moment the benefit
of all existing laws, and the liberty of petitioning fur new
ones; and they possess equal advantages of every Kind with
these who have the right of sending representatives. Per-
;,aps it will he objected that these arguments tend to chew
that the whole representative system is uttreal or twminal :