The Sun.
London, England, 1820-01-05 00:00:00

REFORM.

Ma. EDITOR—As you thought proper to insert
my Letter from this place, on the subject of Ra-
eoesa, I am induced to trouble you again with
my crude notions, which Ministers will most
probably treat with contempt, because they do
not come backed with the all-prevailing force of
Parliamentary interest. It may not be improper
for me to sketch an outline of the Plan of Reforni
which I before proposed, and which, if carried
into effect under the sanction of Ministerial in-
fluence, may tend to allay our heats, to lessen our
discontents, and to spread unity and peace over
the Country. My main points were these : In
the first place, Ministers should not devote so
much of their patronage to secure Parliamentary
interests, but bring forward and protect men of
talents and knowledge who may really serve the
Public. At present any unlicked cub is soon pro-
vided for, if he happens to be the hundredth cousin
of a Peer, or of a man of extensive Parliamentary
interest, or even a favourite footman. Such
things have often been seen, and they may be
seen again. In the next place, no person should
possess more than one situation under Government
in these held titnes, if it will afford him a comfort-
able maintenance, and if not, his salary should
be raised, but be should not be suffered to remain
a Pluralist, In the third place, no large salaries
should exist, bur should be reduced to a moderate
proportion, by which means there would be a re-
source to augment the income of those whose sa-
laries may be too small and disproportionate to
their duties. It is astonishing what would be
gained to the Public by these arrangements, and
how they would tend to calm the angry passions
of the middling and the lower orders. it is evi-
dent, Mr. Editor, in what view our Government
beholds the present state of National Affairs, by
the new Laws which have been passed, and to
me, and to most persons with whom I associate,
and who are really all loyal men, the state of the
Country appeared to bear too strong a resem-
blance to that of France a very short time before
her dreadful Revolution. lint, Sir, I have a few
more hints to give respecting my Plan of Reform.
1 would have Ministers commence a rigid scru-
tiny into the pretensions, qualifications, and prin-
ciples of those who enjoy good situations in of-
fices under Government (they are likely to know
well enough how they were attained) for the People
ought not to pay largely to those who are not able
or disposed to serve them. Something effectual must
still be done after the immediate danger is remov-
ed, or all may still be lost. It is notorious that
there are men in subordinate situations under Go-
vernment, who are Radicals in principles and feel-
ings. How many men of great talents and high
attainments are pining for want of such employ-
ments as they would fulfil to their own honour
and the advantage of the Country, but which
are bestowed on men without any merit, anti
only because they have Parliamentary connexions!
Perhaps it would be very difficult to find many
situations in any Public Offices occupied by men
of real talents, and who owe their situations only
to their intrinsic merits and acknowledged ser-
vices. 1 do not wish the old system of seniority
to be abolished, but exceptions should be made,
and Government should exercise a sound discre-
tion in the choice of successors to any office ; for
mere continuance of dog-trot practice should not
entitle a man to keep down an inferior of great
talents and acquisitions, who might, beyond com-
parison, be more useful to the Country. The want
of a due exercise of such discretionary judgment is
always the proof of a weak or timid Government,
Again I say, Mr. Editor, something must be
(fore. Ministers must not be satisfied with having
already done well, as I admit they have, for they
are placed in times that imperiously demend.a
continuance of wisdom, firmness and rectitude.—
Having occupied all the posts that may fall vacant
(which are not mere sinecures, for I confess to
you, Mr. Editor, I would have all ,sinecures ebo-
fished) with men of real talents and solid infor-
mation, who, in this Country of tnental cultiva-
tion, may easily be found, with what firmness
could a Niniver meet the Representatives of the
.People in Parliament, and with what respet:t and
confidence would they look 'Tomhim, whose Ad-
ministration was founded upon rectitude,
just ice, and an enlightened policy, which
disregarded all party influence in order to support
the essential interests and honour of the Em-
pire ! ! Sir, he would stand upon a rock, and
might look with scorn on the foamy and feeble
billows of a noisy Opposition. What, indeed,
would an Opposition have to complain of when
they found the business of this Nation vested in
hands qualified toconduct it, and not wholly bestow-
ed upon needy Relations, early Connexions, and
Parliamentary Supporters ! What a prospect does
this present to a Minister of enlarged notions and
a true attachment to the welfare and honour of
(he State. He would be the best friend of the
SOVEREIGN, and the SOVEREIGN would be too
wise to interfere ip the arrangements of so en-
ligkeried a Counsellor. Such a Minister would,
of course, select associates of distinguished ta-
lents, smind integrity, and comprehensive views
XVith such a t»an at the helm of affairs, the Radi•
cat Reformers would soon sink into universal con-
tempt, the Nation would fiOUl ish, and the People
would IP: happy.
Bristol, Ihc. 27. A V.EFORMER.

We have again to announce the non-arrival of
Paris Papers. Two days' Journals are due.

(From the Liverpool Paper received this morning.]

The Message of the PRESIDENT of the United
States is expected by the next Packet ship, which
is looked for every tide.
We have had winter during the last week in all
its vigour of frost and snow. The frost on
Friday night, we believe, was one of the severest
which Liverpool has experienced for a number of
years ; and we have been informed by a Gentle-
man who lives at Lowhill that his thermometer,
at 7 o'clock on Saturday morning, in an exposed
•
situation, was as low as 7 degrees.

It appears that the Irish PAPISTS are determined
to make a resolute struggle for a participation in
Political Authority during the ensuing Meeting
of Parliament, and, as far as we understand, are
confident of ultimate success. We have inserted
this day en article which appeared in The Dabfirs
Evening Post of the Ist iust.; and we recommend
it to the particular attention of all who are sensi-
ble of the blessings which we enjoy under our
present happy Establishment in Church and State,
which Papists of every description would deem
it not only a meritorious but a religious duty
to annihilate for ever, and to consign all Pro-
testants as Heretics to eternal perdition. Now
that our Political Constitution and our National
Faith are secured by wise Laws, which allow all
rational freedom, from rebel Reformers and
Blasphemers, it is the duty of our Legislators to
be as zealous to preserve that National Faith as
the Papists are to destroy it. When we see
men of high rank and vast possessions, and
even some Members of our Government, sup.
porting the claims of Popery to a share in
Political Power, it is time for all true friends to
the Established Church to be alarmed. The
danger is more threatening than people in general
suppose, for the doctrines of Blasphemers hava•
been too widely spread, and have been too suc-
cessful its producing an indifference to Religion in
the minds of the lower and the middling orders,
and consequently may render them insensible to the
miseries which the restoration of Popery might even. -
lordly bring upon themselves as well as upon their
Country. Religious controversy is not a proper
subject for a daily Journal ; but when the vital
interests of a Protestant Government are con-
cerned, there is a call upon us to use every pos•
sible means to avert the danger. We have had
many able and learned Correspondents, who
have exerted their abilities through the me•
dium of THE SUN ; and on a recurrence of
the danger, we trust that they will again come forth.
We had indeed hopes that our lIIERARCHY would,
on that account espouse the interests of our
Paper, and give it the sanction of their peculiar
recommendation and patronage. We still indulge
those hopes, relying 'on their full conviction that
it is necessary to oppose, with the most resolute
and determined zeal, all efforts t hat may lead to the
restoration of that Papal Despotism. which was
once so dreadful an infliction on the British Em.
pirc.—We are glad to find that our enlightened
Correspondent BarTasnicus, of Leicester, is col-
lecting into a body that mass of true Patriotism.
religious Truth, and pure Christianity, conaprized
in the Series of Letters which were communi-
cated to the Public through the medium of our
Paper.

CORN-EXCHANGE, JAN. s.—ln con4qtience of
the stoppage of the Navigation, and the impossi-
bility of working any Corn aut of vessels, no
sales were made this morning, except such arri-
vals as were in Granary, and even those were very
trifling ; so that the prices of all Grain may 4;
considered 2ominally as on Monday.