The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-27 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY.

Lord Hatherton last night drew the attention of Govern-
ment to Sunday traffic on canals, when Lord Wharncliffe said it
was intended to bring in a Bill.on the subject, though not this
session.
Lord Kinnaird moved for a copy of the Queen's letter, and
stigmatized the tariff as a precious piece of humbug.
After a short debate, in which the impropriety of issuing such
a letter except in cases of urgent distress, diftcult to be re-
lieved by other means, was commented on, the letter was
ordered.

The Copyright Bill went through a Committee. The Lord
Chancellor explained its provisions, and supported it. Lord
Brougham took a different view, and was not for extending the
period. Lords Cottenham and Campbell supported the Bill,
as did Lord Lyttelton. There was an understanding that
some clauses of the Bill should be considered on the Report.
Their Lordships sat till ten o'clock.
In the Commons Mr. W. Wynn moved that the Attorney-
General be instructed to prosecute those persons whom he
should think had been guilty of bribery at the late election
for Ipswich. Sir Thomas Wylde opposed the motion. After
some debate it was withdrawn, no person on either side sup-

porting it. S'
Colonel Rushbrooke afterwards moved that the writ for

Ipswich be issued, and Mr. Hume moved that tke debate be
adjourned for a month. After a tedious discussion the House
divided on Mr. Hume's motion, which was lost by 128 to 107.
The question was again put, when Mr. O'Connell moved as an
amendment that a Committee be appointed to inquire into the
alleged bribery at Ipswich. On a, division, this motion was
lost by 133 to 119, and the writ for Ipswich was ordered to be
issued.

The House was occupied with these subjects till a quarter
before twelve, when Mr. C. Buller objected, at that hour. to
proceed with his motion relative to Bridport and Mr. War-
burton's petition, in which both the Members for Bridport con-
curred, and the motion was put off till this day.
Lord Stanley obtained leave to bring in a Bill for the better
Government of Newfoundland. The Witnesses Indemnity Bill
was read a second time, and the House adjourned at One
o'Clock.

PUBLIC OPINION.
The Herald thus comments on the conduct of the House
of Commons, as regards the Affghanistan question :—" With
regard to this war in India, it is almost universally agreed that it
is impolitic, if not criminal ; and yet we prosecute it, and
are so determined to prosecute it, that we resist all investi-
gation into it. What would be said of any man who acted so
in his private affairs, except that he was one of those who was
maddened, as a step preparatory to destruction? India was,
four years ago, flourishing and secure, progressing in finances;
making, for the first time, strides in internal improvement; her
produce opening to us new sources of rich and unlimited supply.
And what is she now ? Already a load and a burden,
exhausted of means, exhausted of treasure, and bringing upon
England the necessity of impending sacrifices, not merely to
meet her deficiencies, but to relieve her embarrassments. And
yet this
of Commons.
nogncneeexcatgeedd
sot heatte
essentialn attention
matter
of of business, and one involving such enormous consequences,
for no intelligible reason, can we wonder that that body
should have disregarded the higher but more difficult inte-
rests of England, compromised in the same manner, and that
now, another party having succeeded to power, and prwe-
cuting the same designs, that both should be united to stifle
inquiry, and to commit the whole body of the nation to the
absurdities which they have accepted as reasons of State, and
to the guilt which every man must denounce and seek to punish
who has not been made a participator in it."
The Chronicle contains the following remarks, in a leading
article suggested by the bribery and corruption practiced at
elections When there is no longer any delicate reserve
about the means of obtaining legislative power, why should
false modesty and conventional phraseology be kept up in rela-
tion to the objects for which that power is exercised ? When
barefaced bribery has excited its laugh, why should cupidity
keep on its vizor ? Since such forms as Placed here by the
free and independent voices of unbought electors,' are gone out,
why should not the frankness that follows say plainly I
come here, I have bought my seat, to keep up my rents,
and avert the justice that would assign to the labourer
the full quantum of food which he earns.' This is the
common sense view of the case !' We think there
are some symptimis of an approximation towards it. The
more independent position of the upper House marks it out for
taking the lead in this extension of Parliamentary sincerity.
There is a manliness not always found in the hostility to the
tariff, in what the Duke of Richmond observed on Tuesday, as
to its operation. ' One effect had already taken place in the
reduction of wages : in consequence of the tariff, and of the
Corn-laws, agricultural wages had already been reduced. He,
however, hoped the farmers would not reduce the wages of their
labourers, if they could possibly pay them, for there was no
worse economy than that of badly paying labourers.' Now,
seeing that, as Lord Kinnaird reminded his Grace, prices have
been rising ever since the new Act passed, this is a noble
throwing overboard of the pretence that high prices are kept up
fer the sake of high wages."
_ _

The Morning Post expresses the following opinions, referring
to the questions of free-trade and the tariff :—" We say that,
circumstanced as this country is, we, the labout ers, have a right
to our monopoly of employment, but we have no right to be ex-
tortioners. We allow the general benefit of some competi ion.
We do not object to the spur, if you do not apply it in an in-
sulting manner, but we utterly refuse the goad. What! shill
we find the Prime Minister acknowledging—and wisely and
justly acknowledging—that he sees this remarkable indication
in society, that the luxury of one class, namely, the rich, and
the poverty and hardship of another, namely, the working poor,
are growing and increasing simultaneously—shall we find this ac •
knowledged, and yet must we fold our arms and look on in
respectful acquiescence, while the principle of beating down
the value of the produce of labour, by calling in the corapet it i-
tion of all the untaxed countries of the earth, is openly main-
tained as the policy mostfitted for this age of liberality and en-
lightenment? Shall we call such a principle—endeavoured to
be applied under such circumstances—a rational or a just princi-
ple? Shall we call it safe ? No, we shall not, for we believe
it is the most directly ? evolutionary principle that could be
acted upon in this country. When we look around us and see
the splendour of opulence, which we rejoice to see, and.when we
find some of those who live in the midst of it endeavouring
to encourage a system for beating down the remuneration of
labour, we are painfully reminded how apt too much prosperity
is to harden men's hearts."

The Times thus slily deprecates Sir 'Hobert Peel's constant
habit of truckling to expediency, instead of being guided by
principle :—" We approve, of course, of subjecting those deli-
cacies which are the exclusive property of the rich to the same
duty which is imposed on all that other variety of fish which
are likely to be partaken of by the poor. But we have a little
complaint to make of one or two words of Sir R. Peel on the
occasion. They. are but one or two words, but they are ra-
ther characteristic. Sir R Peel said most rightly, that under
the old existing tariff, the objection was to the admission of
turbot duty free, because it was an article of luxury, and con-
sumed by the rich. sow, if, in proposing a duty on fo-
reign fish, he had continued the duty on salted her-
rings, and emitted to place a duty on turbot, there would,
he thought, have been advantage taken of that distinction, as
being unfair in principle, &c.' Very true, indeed ; but why
talk of an advantage being taken of the distinction, as if the
only object in removing the injustice were to satisfy public
opinion, and avoid giving a handle to a political adversary ?
Why not say at once, that the distinction would have been
unfair in principle, and therefore ought to be abolished? Sir
R. Peel may depend upon it, he is far more likely to carry
public opinion with him by claiming to lead than by affecting
to follow it—by placing before the world, as honourable and
sufficient, the true grounds of his action, than by pretending
that 'he only does justice out of deference to the will of thO
people, or of his opponents."
NAVAL AND DIXLITAIVir.
Three hundred officers of the medical department of the
army have presented a handsome service of plate to G. T.
Guthrie, Esq., F. R. S., intended to be expressive of their high
sense of him, as the companion of their early military service
and their instructor.
LAW AND POLICE.
The second meeting under Edlin's bankruptcy, late occupier
of the Gloucester Hotel, Brighton, was held on Wedncs lay, at
the Town Hall, when the balance-sheet showed the debts to
amount to 4,875/. Os. 6d., the debts due to the estate 275/. 13s. 4d.
and no property.
An act ion was tried in the Bail Court on Wedni s lay, brought
by Signor Benedic Negri, a professor of music, to recever be-
tween 3001. and 4001., for teaching music to the daughter of
the Duke of Normandy. The plaintiff was non-suited.
The case of collision between the Volant, a collier, and the
Beatitude, in which the former has brought a cross action for
damage sustained, from alleged unskilfulness on the part of the
latter's crew, will not receive the decision of the Court of Ad-
miralty before next session.
Thomas Shores, a farmer's labourer, was brought up at the
Kensington police-office, charged with having stabbed his
brother, John Shores, with a knife in his stomach, on Sunday
last, at Hanworth, and remanded to the New Prison, Clerken-
well, till the state of his brother can be better known.
PINE ARTS.

At the picture sale last week at Messrs. Christie and Man-
sons, the " Rabbit on the Wall," which is on panel, and
signed "D. Wilkie, 1816," was sold. Of this favourite pic-
ture John Turner, Esq., was the original possessor, and now
from his collection it has passed into a picture-dealer's hands
for 700 guineas.