The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-25 00:00:00

TILE LONDON JOURNALS.

DAILY EXTRACTS FROM THE MORNING PAPERS,

May 25.
[BRITISH 'PRESS.]
The late events upon the continent of Europe
..certainly excited a very general alarm among the
proprietors of Foreign Stock, and some millions of
-British pounds have in consequence been trans-
ferred from the French and other stocks into our
Government securities. This operation is, in our
opinion, the principal cause of, the recent rise in
'oar funds. We are not aware that the events on
the'Continent exercised any influence upon our
funds, either by causing an actual depression, or
by preventing their improvement; 'but if they did
so, something may now be attributed to the re-
storation of confidence. The return of the Bank
to cash payments, considering the extent to which
-the paper issues had recently been reduced, will
'certainly increase the quantity of the circulating
medium, and therefore in some degree diminish
'its intrinsic value, though it will only restore it
'to its sound and wholesome state ; but whatever
may be 'the extent of this Operation, time has not
yet been allowed for it; therefore nothing can he
deduced from the state of the currency with re-
spect to the subject now before us. In the pre-
sent state of the finances of the country, a rise in.
the price of the funds is certainly not to be de-
sired, 'for limited as our sinking fund now is, it
becomes a matter of deep interest that the pro-
duce of it should be renderied as effective as
possible.

[ Ew 'mules.]
We were happy to observe the candid manner
in which Mr. Brougham brought under the con-
sideration of Parliament the proceedings of the
Constitutional Association. Differing, as we cer-
tainly do, from the Leaflied Gentleman, in his
doubts on the expediency of such an Association,
we admit that those doubts were fairly stated,
and deserve to be explicitly answered. Let us
see what Mr. Brougham admits. He admits the
high respectability of the Associators ; he *ouches
for the sound constitutional principles of some
of them ; he designates others as godly and
pioui; and he observes that the published list
contains the names of no less than forty Peers of
the realm ! The Society directs its exertions to
tyro great objects, the encouragement of moral
and constitutional publications, and the discou-
ragement, or iu flagrant cases, the prosecution of
seditious and disloyal works. Against the cir-
culation of loyal and moral writings not a sy liable
is uttered ; and Mr. Brougham himself would
doubtless allow it to be a praiseworthy measure.
As to the prosecutions; he distinctly admits
them to be legal ; he admits them, in point of
law, to stand on the same footing as those in-
stituted by numerous other Associations through-
out the country, and particularly by that very
laudable and beneficial institution the Society
for the Suppression of Vice. The legal principle
is undisputed that any person or number of per-
sons may prefer a Bill of Indictment against
others for any crime or offence cognizable by law.
Such is the position o► Mr. Brougham himself,
and it is, we apprehend, perfectly incontrover-
tible.—liere, then, we have a legal Association
pursuing a legal object by legal means. Upon
what ground are their proceedings impeached ?
In the first place, it is said that ether Associa-
tions prosecute other Offences. True : and it is
because they do so that a distinct association is
instituted for the prosecution of these offences.
Some individuals combine to enforce the laws
against felonies, others against misdemeanors.
One body of men direct their 'attention exclu-
sively to the suppression of obscene and blas-
phemous publications ; but with regard to sedi-
tious publications, and to them alone, the ground
has hitherto been unoccupied ; and in occupying
it- the Constitutional Association has supplied a
most essential safeguard to public morals and
the public peace.

[MORNING POst.]
The important and salutary measure which has
reylved, and in some degree realizedithe fable of
the Phoenix, by making the corruption of Gram-
pound serve to create a new and healthy branch
in our Nationallßepresentation, received last night
the final sanction of the Muse of Peers. After a
short discussion, the House divided,, and the
third reading was carried by a majority of 39 to
The Bill was then paised and returned to
the Commons, who, it is expected, will agree
to the amendments made by their Lordships,
rather than stand out in behalf of Leeds, and
reject a Bill which establishes for the first time
the highly important principle, that the Elective
Franchise may be transferred from those by whom
it. has been justly forfeited, to any places which
may seem proper to the wisdoM of Parliament.
In the first instance the new Members are given
to the County of York ; but it is understood that
inonld any other case. of . corruption be proved,
the forfeited franchise will be bestowed on those
populous and opulent cities, which having grown
up since the Crown has resigned- the. power of
franchising- Boroughs, could not otherwise enjoy
the benefit of a share in ,the National Represen-
tation.

Gross abuse of the Constitutional Association
Is now all the rage among the advocates of the
licentious and seditious Press ; and severe com-
plaint is naturally enough made against those
means which, are, likely to bring the guilty to
justice. It would indeed be difficult to punish
men in any way that shall be agreeable and sa-
tisfactory to themselves,; and therefore the Con-
stitutional Association, in their exertions to put
down a detestable traffic, must expect to be daily
more and more honoured with the hatred of all
who seek to promote the moral pestilence by
which the land is at present cursed.—( Ibid.)

[MORNING lI,ERALD.]

Mr. Scarlett moved in the House of Commons,
last night, the second reading of his Bill relative
to the support of the Poor, in a speech of re-
markable ability and clearness of statement. It
-will be remembered, that'the two. main objects
are the abolition of the System of parish settle-
ments, and the fixing a specific limitation of the
amount of the Poor Rate,. In some cases) how-