The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-25 00:00:00

4011
*cm-

;SUN OFFICE, Quarter to Four.

A curious disclosure was made in the Hotte of Lords
last night by the Earl of lltroN and the Duke of WEL-
LiNoToN. It appears that they were not consulted about
the emission of the QUEEN'S Letter to the Clergy, re-
commending a subscription on behalf of the poor.
When asked about it by Lord KINNAIRD, the Noble
Earl and the Illustrious Duke said that they
were not 'aware of even the existence of such
a letter. Lord CoLUoRNE had heard it read in
church, and Lord IeiNNAIRD undertook the enlighten_
mcnt of the Noble Members of her MAJESTY'S Govern-
ment, by moving that a copy of it might be laid before
their Lordships, which was ordered.
From this it is clear that the Premier acts in the most
important affairs, without the knowledge of some of his
colleagues, and that he does not always take even the
Illustrious Duke into his confidence. That a measure
aflxting'the interests of the working classes should not
have been communicated to the Noble President of the
Board or Trade is indeed surprising. But the Premier
knows tliat .the Tories can do nothing without him, and
therefore he treats their idols as scurvily as he ple;ase;..
A lesS important point remains to he noticed.
Ny
their own confession it is notorious that the Earl of
IZiros and the Duke of WELLINCIToN have as yet sub-
scribed nothing. The nation expects a noble donation
from persons to whom it has given so much. Well, they
have it in their power to make the donation e memorable
one. Let them keep their gold,.but, give.us a free trade
in corn. That is the only donation worthy of England's
acceptance.

Whatever else may be said of Sir RoBERT PEEL, we
have neVer heard him mistaken for a ninny. He has the
reputation of too much cunning ever to pass for a fool.
And yet, the Eight Hon. Baronet appears wonderfully
solicitous to figure in that character. Unless this be so,
we cannot comprehend upon what principle he would
have the llouse of Commons and the public be-
lieve that he has discovered a diplomatic SOLOMON
in Captain ELLIOT, of whose tea-pot exploits
the world has heard so much. The Gallant Captain, it
appears, has had sc'verat interviews with the Premier,
and quite satisfied him that the Commissioner LIN was
no match for " now 1 a great Minister"-EuAoT, as the
modest ex-Plenipotentiary styled himself in one of his
memorable proclamations which excited such merriment
at the Celestial Court of Pekin. Now if Sir IlonEnT
PEEL would keep the Gallant Captain at home,
who cut such a formidable figure as Commissioner
LIN'S prisoner, he might present him with the next
vacant Garter, for all the Liberal Press would care about
the matter. But Sir ROBERT'S praises of the Captain's
" ability," " integrity," and other apocryphal qualities,
are thrown out to cover the landing in Texas of this
precious diplomatist. Sir It PEEL does not lament the
appointment of the Gallant Ceptain as Consul, as one of the
embarrassing legacies left him by his predecessors. On
the contrary, he is so charmed with the ex-Plenipoten-
tiary- that he adopts him as his own especial pet. Sir
RoBERT does not care three straws for public opinion
out of doors. It gives him no concern to send a
man, whose incompetency has made him a laughing-
stock, from the Yellow Sea to the Gulf of
Mexico, to carry on our relations between this country and
the rising republic of Texas. Where a man of energy,
of promptitude, and of firmness, is most wanted, the
Government is about to send a meddling, wavering,
bombastical chatterer, the very mention of whose name the
Tex ans will resent as an insult. To the interests of this
country the appointment of such a Consul to Texas must
prove exceedingly injurious. This is not the opinion of
one part of the Press, but of Journals the most opposed to
each other in politics. That no doubt of this may be enter-
tained, we quote the following article upon the subject,
from our venerable Tory Contemporary, the Morning
Herald :
Captain Elliot has, then, to go out as Consul-General to.
Texas. Sir Robert Peel will quickly find out the mistake he
allows Lord Aberdeen to unwillingly commit. The represen-
tative of • Queen Victoria will be ecceived at Austin, Houston,
at Galveston, whichever may be the seat of Government, when
he lands in the new republic, with laughter. There is already
a contemptuous curiosity—commingled with not a little indig-
nation—in Texas, we learn, to see so re a diplomatist.
Sir Robert Peel, alleges, in defence of his confirmation of
Lord Palmerston's appointment, that the intercourse he has
had with Captain Elliot leads him to place confidence in his
ability to discharge the duties entrusted to him, and that there
is nothing in his official correspondence which shows that con-
fidence could not be placed in the recalled Plenipotentiary.
All that we can say is, that Captain Elliot must have
tongue of an angel if he can charm away from Sir Robert
Peel the odium which he has universally inspired,
and that . his correspondence must be something very diffe-
rence from his acts if it beset confidence. Captain Elliot
may Barry from England the confidence of the Cabinet, but he
does not possess the confidence of the nation ; and to reward a
public servant far degrading the national reputation.is not what
was anticipated from Sir Robert Peel and the Duke of Welling-
ton. We trust, however, that this appointment will yet b'
formally brought under the consideration of the House of Com-
meas. Can the appointment of a Consul-General be legal when
i•-• is made to a State as yet um ecognised ? The Texan treaties
are still unratified,
The sooner, however, there is (some representative of the
British Crown in Texas the better ; he will find plenty to do
when he is there ; much that requires great ability and no little
tact. President Houston has declared the coast of Mexico to
be in a state of blockade, and has established, to some extent, an
effective blockade ; already have the combined Texan and Yuca-
tan navies, amounting. we believe, to about eight small ships of
war, captured one or two Mexican vessels. Will this block-
ade be recognised by England? This is a question of great
importance to British commerce. is it one on which Captain
" great abilities" can be of any service? The question,
too, of annexation to the United States is not disposed of.
There is a powerful party at Washington more desirous than
ever that Texas should be admitted into the Union, and divided
into two States—one a slave-holding, the other a free State. The
course that England will pursue will probably decide this ques-
tion. Can the course of British policy be safely trusted to the'
" great abilities" of Captain Elliot ?

The Railways Bill now before Parliament has been
drawn up in such a slovenly manner, and is admitted to
be so defective by all parties who have the safety of the
public in view, that it would be infinitely better
to reject it at once than endeavour to patch u'
such an abortive piece of legislation. It hardly con-
tains one-clause that will materially protect the lives of
passengers, and has been drawn up, it would seem,
to make the public believe that something for
their benefit was intended, while absolutely nothing has
been done. The few remarks made by Lord RIPON last
evening., fully bear out these statement,. In answer to
a question respecting the locking of carriages on the
h
Great Western Railway,e said inquiry had been
made on the subject, and he had learned from the
Inspector-General of Railways that it was a most dan-
gerous practice, and ought not to be continued.
He stated further Unit the Government had no power to
interfere ; yet here is a Bill passed through Committee
without any clause to remedy the defect, or in any way
to modify or abolish a regulation which a paid inspector
describes as a dangerous practice. Now, we should like
to know what is the use of such a functionary, if he do
nut point out to his employers the evils of the system,
and, above all, such a glaring evil as that which has
thrown a gloom over the whole of France, and which,
fur aught that Sir J. GRAHAM or General PASLEY has
dune, may in a moment afflict this country with a similar
calamity. It is singular, too, that the useful motion of
Mr. HARDY received no aid from the Home Secretary,
and was knocked on the head by a brief but very
speech from the Chairman of that very railway on
which the dangerous practice still prevails. The French
Government, aware from sad experience of the fatal copse-
, qamtees of running passengers' carriages immediately be-
hind the engine, have decreed that on :very line there shall
be a luggage waggon between the engine net the car-
riages; and when -the number exceeds five, a second shall
be placed, in order to lessen the rislz, sor,:e 'the
better remedy be devised. This was the a] o •'ll
Mr. HARDY's motion, which wa:4 d.,,,,ibed
as fine`-'t
ticable, and rejected with insulting haste, without PrA
the slightest allusion to the evidence given -before the
Railways Committee, in which it was distinctly proved