The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-11 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

We almost begin to despair of seeing a real
(that is to say any, other than a make-believe)
sinking fond dstaliliAol, or, if established, long
maintained by the practice of any British Admi-
nistration. Lord Grenville has, with great dig-
nity and noblness, abjured his old opinions
upon the subject of a sinking fund, created out
of borrowed money, like that for malty years re,
commended to the country by the eloquence and
influence of Mr. Pitt, anti adhered to with the
constitutional pertinacity of that Right Hon.
Gent. Lord Grenville 's authority has perhap§

done more towards gaining proselytes to the true
faith upon this matter, than was effected by that
of all the authors who had preceded him, those
included to the force of whose reasonings his
Lordship's own conversion might fairly be ascribed,
The present understanding seems to be, that a
man who borrows from one party a thousand
pounds, wherewith to discharge a previous debt
of a thousand pound to another party, has only
changed the name of his creditor, without dime•
nishing the amount of his incumbrances. The
former orthodox, though now inconceivable no-
tion, was, that a mail might borrow on Monday,
even more than he paid in liquidation of an old
debt on Tuesday, and all the while fancy that
when the account came to be investigated, the
payment of the old debt would stand to his
credit, while the new loan which he had raised
for the discharge of it was to go for nothing on
the debit side. A long time elapsed before the
utter folly of a system founded on such delusion
was ever so slightly hinted at by those official
persons who have since appeared to be most
deeply penetrated by the sense of it. A longer
period went by before it was thought prudent or
decent—or something of that sort—to admit the
thing freely, as if it were an unquestionable
truth ; and even at this hour we can hardly vouch
for the new light, with regard to what really con-
stitutes a sinking fund, having beamed upon the
finance department in its inmost sanctuaries and
recesses. Parliament has more than once pro-
fessed its conviction that the country ought to
have a " real sinking fund," and that some por-
tion of debt ought to be annually redeemed, out
of an excess of income over expenditure. This
was in one sense hitting the nail upon the head ;
but then Parliament, having driven the nail a
certain length, forgot, unhappily, to clinch it.
Thus it was the best thing in the world to
pay of without being obliged to borrow :
it was, considering what Parliamentary finan=
tiers often are, a grand discovery for them
to make—that a surplus fund is the only
fund out of which a debt can be liquidated.
So they voted this wise and useful applica-
tion of the surplus. But, as ill-luck would have it
they failed in a requisite no less essential than
that of providing their surplus. They began to
dress the hare before they had caught it. Eight
millions as a " real sinking fund " was talked of
by some honourable gentlemen, but this was be-
yond all bounds. Five millions (to make sure
work) was modestly proposed by a Treasury con-
juror of a former session, and voted, we believe,
by the House. The vote, however, not bring-
ing the " wherewithal," and it being still found
necessary to build the excess of income out of
borrowed money, we pitched our level about 40
per cent. lower. The surplus was voted down
to 3,000,0001., and we actually began to hope
that, by some miracle or another, the vote would
turn out to have a small degree of correspond-
ence with the fact. We fancied that symptoms
were here and there visible —and, indeed, since
the ,Duke's accession to the GOverninent, they
have become so—of a common-sense way of going
to work, not. by votes of paper surpluses, but by
creating the surplus through the only means
which, in a country where the taxes cannot be
increased, could effect an improvement in the re-
lations between income and expenditure—namely,
by reducing the latter ; when there comes down
upon us an ill-omened bird,—an inquisitive and
calculating raven of a letter-writer, who proves,
as clearly as arithmetic can demonstrate any
thing, that the result of all the fine speeches,
votes, budgets, and surpluses—the several raw
materials of the sinking-funds--the five millions

cat's

ever

—the three millionsL•the millions indefinite, i
which have within these few last sessions been
appropriated by Parliament to the "- gradual"
(very gradual) redemption of the debt—is the
leaving the nation deeper in debt than it was
nearly five years ago ; inasmuch as we have
paid off a little more than 19,000,0001. sterling
of our old incumbrances, and have contracted a
little less than 21,000,000/. of fresh ones. With
this remark upon the present state of the case,
we leave our correspondent to narrate his own
history.— Times.
In the Bishop of Lincoln's Primary Charge,
to which we alluded some days ago, we find one
of the most important questions which affect the
Church treated with more boldness and discrimi-
nation than by any of his brethren since the days
of Harry the Eighth. We allude to the tenure
of Church property. The prevalent doctrine
with Churchmen is that the property of the
Church is absolutely freehold, and, therefore, as
sacred from interference as from violation on the
part of the Legislature. Against this doctrine
the Bishop protests. He tells his Clergy that
the property they enjoy was devised—but for
certain purposes which imply certain conditions ;
and that the State is the Trustee to see that
those .conditions are fulfilled. He does not
speak positively of penalties in case of failure on
the part of the Clergy ; but he says quite suffi-
cient to justify the interference of any Govern-
ment, should such failure occur. Dr. Kay is
too sensible a man to talk of a Trustee, 'seeing
that certain obligations are performed, without
having any remedial power in the case of their
being neglected. With respect to such lay im-
propriations as were acquired by the robbery of
the Church, the Legislature cannot interfere ;
and the speculations, therefore, on this head, in
which the Orange Press in Ireland have lately
indulged, are idle_ The original robbers, at the
same time that they seized the property, dis-
claimed and annulled the obligations attached to
it. They had as much right to do the one as the
other ; and that right being acknowledged by the
sufferance of the State, cannot be disturbed now,
according to the civil axiom that the injustice
of the original appropriation does not affect the
justice of the tenure, provided that it has been
permitted by the State to acquire the qualities
of security and transference. To reclaim such
property, and to reinforce the obligations at-
tached to it before its misappropriation, are evi-
dently one and the same question. In fact,
when the deed of the donors was set aside as to
the possession of the property, so, also, was it as
to the purposes for which it was devised; and how-
ever wrongfully in either case, the wrong is now
past remedy—Libitina sacravit. But with
Clerical incumbents the matter is different. The
tenure by which they hold Church property is
virtually the same, and the obligations the same,
as prescribed by the donors. The State, says

Dr. Kay, is the Trustee to see that these obli-
gations are performed. By this declaration the
Reverend Doctor must be aware that he invests
the Legislature not with any defined, but with an
equitable and almost discretionary jurisdiction
over church property. In fine, Dr. Kay admits
that, although the Legislature has no power of
disposal thereof, it has a direct power to re-
late its disposition. The question how the
Legislature has, and low it may, exercise that
power for the improvement of Church discip4ine,
That the State is Trustee over the Church is tier
new doctrine in fact, as the several Acts of Par-
liament for its regulation show. The trust,
hon'ever, as these Acts also show, has been so
equivocally exercised, that Dr. Kay was some-
what generous (for a Bishop) to have acknow-
edged its existence. Whenever the Legislature
as interfered, it has merely been as the
:Taw of the Clerical Benth. What-
power it has created is not oval' but for
Church. It has invested Bishops with
plenty of power, but attached to them no duty of
responsibility. It has ordained that a Bishop
may prevent a poor parson from holding two
livings, but has not forbidden him to institute a
rich one to a dozen. It has given him authes
rity to enforce residence upon the most needy,
but has left a capricious indulgence in his bands
to the most wealthy. The consequence is ob-
vious ; but any man of common sense can find
a remedy for it. All that is wanted is simply
this—an enactment to which the inferior Clergy
shall not only be liable, but which the Bishops
must enforce, with exceptions at their discre-
tion. But this discretion should be a discretion
within certain limits, to be exercised in foour of
the poorer Clergy, and not, as it is now, an. aly-
solute discretion, exercised only in favour a
those who have wealth and affluence. The re-
sult would be not only a more just and effective
system of discipline, but a more equal distribu-
tion
of Church property. The working Clergy
would thus become more respectable, as they
would be better provided for ; and the drones
less obnoxious, as they would consume less. The
trust, however, says Dr. Kay, is vested in Par-
liament. The obligations to be fulfilled it is not
for us to define ; but they certainly are not that
Bishops and Archdeacons should be mere non-
resident staff officers—that one indisdual shall
hold half a dozen preferments without the ycr-
formance, of any duty at either and most c6:-
tainly they are not confined to the poor Vicars
and Curates, who seem to be flogged for the sing
of a diocese, as Prince Jamie's poor chum was
flogged by George Buchannan for the neglect,
and errors of his more dignified pupil.--illortge •
ing Chronicle.
The Dublin Evening Post of Tuesday last
has the following passage : •
"We learn that Lord Leveson Gower des-,
patched upwards of two hundred letters last sight
to the country, calling upon the Magistrates to s,c,&;
their best exertions in preserving the public trail-.
quillity. This may be productive of good—but we .
confess we should rather see a Proclamation, headed
by the name of Northumberland, and signed by as
many Privy Councillors as are now in Dublin, Such
Proclamations were of ordinary occurrence prerioug
to the Rebellion of 1798. The country is now
almost in as great a state of agitation as it was at
that period—and nearly as well organized—and, we
verily believe, better armed."
So far from being surprised that Ireland is in
a disturbed state, our surprize is that it should
ever be other than a theatre of outrage. The
cause of the malady in its social condition lies
far deeper than religion ; and we can even con-
ceive, that without religious excitement of any
kind, it might have exhibited, at this day, nearly
the same appearances. But though religion had
less to do with the misery of Ireland than is gene-
rally supposed, it is difficult to conceive how,
without clearing the question of religious perse-
cution, a remedy could be applied. The one of
Ireland are now freed from their foreign ingredient.
When any man considers the state of Ire-
land ; that the country is crowded with inha-
bitants, without capital, and in the lowest state
of poverty—that every addition of wretchedness
on the part of the peasantry is a cause of addi.'
tional rent to the landlords—that the latter con-
sider the wretched creatures on the land as born
to give their all to them, saving the meal of
potatoes and water which keeps them in exists
ence—that a peasant, when he approaches his
landlord, or his landlord's agent, would b
looked on as little better than a robber, if he
had a decent coat on his back, or a hat on his
head, or shoes on his feet, and therefore he al-
ways endeavours to appear in as sorry a plight as
possible, in order to impress the landlord or
agent that no more can be wrung from him.—
When any man reflects a moment on this state
of things, he must soon satisfy himself that Ire-
land can only be kept quiet by the bayonet, and
that the resources of England can alone enable
the Irish Proprietor to maintain his ground.—
Ireland is constantly on the brink of a servile
war : and we fear many unpleasant events must
occur before that country can afford any gua-
rantee on her own condition for peace and tran-
quillity. We question if Ministers are aware of
the•extent of the danger presented by the social
condition of Ireland ; and whether, if they are
aware, that they dare adopt measures adequate
to the emergency. One thing is certain—that
the Landlords of that country will oppose
any measure at all equal to the wants of the Po-
pulation.—lbid.
It seems that the Greeks are now as discon-
tented with their deliverers as they were with
their lawful masters the Turks, but whom Mr.
Canning, and the other philanthropic classical
recollectionists, choose to call their oppressors.
What a lesson does this same Greek affair, from
first to last, hold out to Statesmen of all coun-
tries, and of all parties and opinions! It does
not happen once in a hundred times, that either
the voluntary or arbitrary interference of one
ec‘o,eurnptory w
lvesitsh the G
atisfactoiovnernemveennt otor affais of
thorsew ialonohtle
have
solicited it, or for whose benefit it may have
been honestly intended. Of the truth of this,
our Portuguese, as well as Greek interference,
afford recent and convincing proofs. Who
would think that a country entangled as this is
in domestic difficulties of her own, could ever
have possessed Statesmen so evidently unwise as
to cut out for her new and unnecessary foreign
entanglements, from which, in neither case, is
she likely to withdraw herself without much ex-
pense and some loss of character ? But we are
so enamoured of our own liberty and Constitu-
tion, forsooth, that we must needs hawk them
l
r
e
r toot.
atsihbi
000 l
twui
eat
haf
ese pedlars
aorttsthl
eddnioelnpoet
pmroeossii;lrwohiciithosehseer
ainliitahneceasffaciial.ofthaPtorGtu,offla,lermanmyenat o some
s—
h
ven
nded
d upon t
offoel interference
c'noet
ex-
ternalb danger, which was never clearly made out
by Mr. Canning, either in his spoken or his
printed speech. But for our Greek interiis-enee,
any more than for the Philhellenism which gave
it birth, there never existed a shadow of pre•

tence which was entitled to the smallest weight .in Ireland refrain, in the fear of giving them
in the mind of a Statesman, more especially in offence, from observances and solemnities which
the mind of any one to whom such a quality as custom has sanctified and the law allows. What-
foresight could ever have belonged. For what ever breaches of the peace may occur are to be
has been—and ought to have been foreseen laid to the charge of Protestants, although they
would be—the necessary consequence of our do no more than exercise an indisputable
interference in the quarrel between the Turk and right ; and the Papists are to be held blameless
his Greek subjects, but to stipple the means of who, in conformity to the spirit of their re..
our own most faithful and valuable ally, while ligion, refuse to tolerate and interrupt even by
we were furthering the views, and aiding the riot and outrage the innocent and legal proceed-
projects of that power whose every motion should inns of others. We do trot say that the Protes-
be to the British Government an object of dis- tarts do all we could wish in merely refraining
trust, if not of apprehension ? Wen, bt't, by from express and tangible violations of the
the aid of France and Russia, we have delivered law. What we say is that they do as much
the Greeks. What then ? Why, these grate- as could reasonably have been calculated on
ful and notable objects of our solicitude turn by those who predicted the general harmony
round, and almost tell us that they wish we had and welfare of Ireland from a measure
done no such thing ; for that they are not one which the Protestants of that country almost
jot the better off for all our Phillmellenism, our unanimously disapproved and resisted. What,
loans, or our blood shed at Navarin. We say however, is the conduct of the Papist
again, is not this a lesson for Statesmen ? And leaders whom that measure was intended to gra-
will not the whole transaction furnish a chapter tify, and who by their promises and predictions
in history which the true historian must stamp were pledged, as deeply as men can be pledged
with folly ?—horning Herald. to any thing, to contribute by every means in
The manner in which the Overseers' accounts their power to its successful operation ? As a
of the parish of S',. Martin in the Fields were proof of the reckless and desperate contempt of
truth to which the advocates of emancipation in
passed by two Magistrates, notwithstanding the
objectionable shape in which they were presented this country are now driven when they have oc-
casion to describe the present conduct of the
for allowance, shows how nugatory in practice the Roman Catholics of Ireland, we quote the lan-
acclaw, which requires a " just, true, and perfect
gunge of' a Journal which zealously supported,
ount," has really become. Indeed, if we are
and still continues to support the Popish
to take this instance as a general example of the
cause :—" The Catholics said the Relief Bill
mode of allowing parish accounts, we must say „.nnid pacify the country, and from the ]roar at
that it is a mere farce—a most ridiculous which that Bill received the King's assent the
Legislature to be brought before two Ma
mockery. Why are the accounts ordered by the promise of the Catholics was kept religiously,
gistrates so far as on them depended.. Now, unless
for their allowance ? Is it that such Magistrates some equivocation be couched under the word
may do a courteous and complimentary thing for " religiously "—which, for what we know, may
those who are interested in having them passed ? only
mean, with the good faith which apper-
is it that the IVlagistrates may affix their names tains to the religion of Rome—we venture
to them by way of ornament, without inquiry or to say that an assertion more directly at va-
examination ? Is it that the Magistrates may riance with facts never proceeded from inor-
take the words of third persons as to the correct- tal tongue or pen. The writer proceeds,
ness of the accounts, without entering into any " the Catholics, therefore, made good their
investigation of their own ? If such were the in- word, and in their persons Einancipaton
tention of the Legislature, it might as well have gave peace to Ireland." And again, "It
left the Overseers and Churchwardens to audit is by Orangemen that the Catholic desire of
their own accounts. But far different was the peace has been frustrated, it is owing to Orange
intention with which the Statutes regulating the rancour and desperation that the evil prophecy
passing and allowance of parish accounts have of their leaders has been enabled to fulfil itself."
been passed. The misapplication of moneys If this were intended for irony, which neither the
raised for the support of the poor caused those context nor the general character of the writer
Statutes to be enacted, and their object is to will allow us to
suppose, it would be very elFec-
guard against such misapplication of the poor tive ; but put forth as it is, for a plain statement
funds in future. Therefore it was that the ac- of facts, we must pronounce it one of the most
counts were directed to be submitted to the in- daring and absurd outrages against truth and the
spection of two Justices of the Peace ; and it is common sense of mankind that has ever fallen
the bounden duty of such Justices to examine under our observation. The Catholic leaders
into the particulars of the accounts, as well as to have manifested a deeper hatred of the English
administer an oath or affirmation of the truth of Government, a more entire contempt of the law,
them—which oath or affirmation is not to super-, a more fixed determination to subvert the Pro-
sede the necessity of examination on the part of testant Church of Ireland, to tyrannize over
the Justices, but is intended as an additional their Protestant fellow-subjects, to dissolve if
protection to the parish, and an additional check possible the connection between England and
on the malversation of its officers, by subjecting Ireland,
since the Bill was passed for their relief
them, if false, to an indictment for perjury. It from political disabilities, than at any former pe-
isa necessary consequence of the power of exa- riod. If it were necessary to adduce proofs of
mination given to the Justices that they should what has already forced itself upon the cony' ic-
strike out such charges as they deem unfounded,
lion of every man in either country, who pays the
and reduce such as are exorbitant, and should least attention to passing transactions, we need
specify, on or at the foot of the account, everyog
only refer to the addresses of O'Connell to the
such charge and payment, and the amount, so county of Clare—to the fact that the Roman
far as they disallow or reduce the same. Did
Catholic Association continues its sittings under
Sir Richard Birdie and his coadjutor go this
, a new name, in defiance of the plain meaning of
way to work with regard to the accounts of tne an Act of Parliament—to the language con-
parish of St. Martin ? He has admitted himself stantly held by all the popular and influential
he did not—and, according to what was re- speakers in that Assembly—to the attempt to
p
ported of the proceedings at Bow-street the other
overawe and enslave the Protestants, anti to
day, on the application of Mr. Fenn to enforce deter them from the natural and legal expression
the penalty against the Overseers, Sir Richard
Birdie appears to have said, that when the ac- of their political and religious opinions—to the
repeated declarations of every man who assumes
counts were brought before him he passed them
to be a Catholic leader, that the concessions the
because they were approved of by three rate- Legislature has made, ample though they be,
payers of the palish. It does not appear that are to be considered of no value, except as
he ever examined into a single item—that he means of extorting still further concessions, and
ever inquired why 311. was charged for Christ- that those which include the repeal of the Union,
mas-boxes ?—why walking the boundaries cost and the dilapidation of the National Church, are
the parish 531.?—why Mr. Ackermann was to be obtained by the same agitation which has
paid for buns 35/. ? Did he ask for the vouchers already been found so successful. Such are the
for any of these extraordinary charges before he declarations and efforts from which the advocates
put his signature to the accounts as being " just, of the Papists are to infer that the latter nefa-
perfect, and true?" Did he inquire why it was riously keep their promise of converting the Bill
that, contrary to a most sound and wholesome for their emancipation into a successful instru-
regulation, Mr. Dalgleish and several other
Members of the Select Vestry had the furnish- inert of pacification in Ireland. Such are the
the Papistsfurnish to their advocates,
grounds
iota of coals, grocery, glazier's work, ironmon-
s, and on which they expect them to contend that
gory, hosiery, linen drapery, and other commodi- they have " made good their word," and are
yes, in preference to those tradespeople and actuated by a sincere "desire of repose."—
shopkeepers who were not Members of the Se- Morning Post.
lea Vestry ? But we shall have more to say
upon this subject presently,—Eid. As much has been recently said and written
on the subject of ex officio informations, and
The organs of the Roman Catholic faction this mode of proceeding of late years having
cannot deny that the state of Ireland has become been rather rare, and at all times unpopular, to
worse than ever since the passing of the measure refresh the minds of our readers, we insert the
which they formerly advocated as the certain and following extract from Blackstone :
only means of securing the peace, happiness, and n There are two kinds of informations exhibited
welfare of that country ; and they therefore, in in the name of the King; first, those which are
vindication of their own political wisdom and truly and properly his own suits, and filed ex officio
honesty, resort to a plea which would be insuffi. by his own immediate officer, the Attorney-yene-
cient if even the assertions it rests upon were rid; secondly, those in which, though the King is
true, and is both insufficient and audacious when the nominal prosecutor, yet it is at the relation of
all the world knows that those assertions are tit-common
some private person. or informer; .
terly false. All the advocates of Ernancißtion are filed by the King's Coroner and Attorney in the
said that it would pacify Ireland. They said Court of King's Bench, usually called the Master of
the Crown Office, who is for this purpose the stand-
this absolutely and unconditionally. The pro- ing officer of the public. The objects of the King's
position, as it was confidently urged by them, own prosecutions filed, cx officio, by his own At-
was unencumbered by any qualifications or re- torney-General, are properly such enormous misde-
strictions. They did not tell us that this great meanours as peculiarly tend to disturb or endanger
and beneficial change would be wrought in the the Government, or to molest or affront him in the
condition of the country if the Protestants of regular discharge qf his royal functions. For
Ireland would at once forget their recent wrongs offences so high and dangerous, in punishment oi
and cease, under the awe of Popish dominion Prevention of which a moment's delay would be
fatal,
the law has given to the Crown the power of
and in abject submission to Popish insolence,
an immediate prosecution without waiting for a pre-
from the commemoration of those remote events vious application to any tribunal:'
which must redound to the glory of their an- " And when an information is filed, either thus
cestors and their country : Peace was promised or by the Attorney-General ex officio, it must be
as the inevitable and immediate consequence of tried by a petit Jury of the country where the
the measure. To this delusive promise time loyal offence arises, after which, if the defendant be found
Protestants and Orangemen of Ireland were no guilty, ,
he must resort to the Court for his punish-
parties, nor could any reasonable man have ex-
ment.
petted of them what the mistaken advocates of By this summary process, the party accused
Emancipation now in effect, and as their only can be arrested and committed to prison if he
apology to a disappointed nation say that they
cannot find bail ; and it is therefore evident,
did expect, the instant and voluntary sacrifice of when recourse is had to a departure from the
habits, feelings, recollections, and triumphs,
ordinary i
that it is incumbent en the Kings Attorney-
tution forbid the Protestants of Ireland to
mode of proceeding against the subject,
'
which neither the law nor spirit of the Consti-
tn
General to make out a strong case, for his own
indulge. The rational anticipation would have credit and the honour of the Government. In
been that the Protestants might cherish the re-
moving for a criminal information, the rule is re-
fused by the Court, unless the party alleged to
collection of former triumphs as a consolation
under the recent injury and humiliation to which be libelled or slandered can purify himself by
they had been exposed, by commemorating them swearing that the charges against him are totally
upon all suitable and customary occasions, in ill unfounded ; and although criminal informations
legal modes, and with a considerable increase of are not considered the best mode of vindicating
,
enthusiasm. Yet because they do this, which every a man's. character, yet they are by no means so
man of sound mind must have expected them
objectionable as ex-officio informations, which
to do, the false prophets of peace and prosperity are not only obnoxious to the constitution, but
claim forsooth to be absolved from responsibility expose time defendant, if he should even be ac-
for their foolish or dishonest predictions. There quitted by a jury of his country, to immense ex-
is something insufferably arrogant in the preten- p
ense, as well as to much vexation, inconvenience,
sions of the Papists and their advocates. For hardship, and trouble.—Morning Advertiser.
their sakes, for the purpose of pacifying and
conciliating them, the Constitution of England
however, is
has been ‘e broken in upon." This,_

Lord EGERTON'S mansion, in the Rue St.
Honore, has been purchased for 2,500,000 francs
(100,0001. sterling), by a company of capitalists under
the firm of LavATssz.•

nothing, unless their Protestant fellow-subjects