The Sun.
London, England, 1829-04-21 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE LONDON JOURNALS.

The general notion seems to be, that the present
session of Parliament will terminate much earlier
than usual. It is our earliest hope that the foreign
relations of the country, as well as her domestic in-
terests, may warrant, on the score of policy, so
speedy a suspension of the Parliamentary labours of
his Majesty's Ministers. Judging, indeed, by the
fruits of their past exertions, they have earned a
rare and rich immunity from toil, however glorious.
They have already done more for the solid well-
being of the empire, than all the Administrations
which preceded them for the last 140 years ; and
'were the account between England and the Duke
of Wellington to be made up at this moment, no
man could assert that the balance was against his
Grace. But the Duke would deviate from the
most valuable of those maxims by which the
greatest warriors and statesmen—and himself
amongst the number—have hitherto been invaria-
bly directed, if he left any thing imperfect
which might have been complete, or any thin,'"
doubtful on which the nation has a title to be
satified. The Catholic Bill has had marvellous
efficacy in restoring peace and confidence through-
&it Ireland. The letters we receive on that impor-
tant subject are one and all of a nature not merely
to delight, but to astonish us. Men of adverse fac-
tions, who had never spoken together for tifs enty
rears, now meet like comrades when the battle is
over, and bend themselves to the cheerful enjoy.
ment of a universal amnesty. At worst, the anti-
Catholic excitement in Ireland was in itself of little

-- • -
Moment. The leaders of it were clamorous, auda-
cious, and menacing, but, physically, they were
feeble, for their followers were comparatively few;
but in its possible effects it was tremendous, since
it might haye provoked the bulk of the nation to
arms. All that, on both sides, is appeased, or on
the point of disappearing, and Ireland is in a state
of more substantial and cordial tranquillity than

_
she has known within the memory of the most an-
cient inhabitant now existing. So in England
the fermentation showed more froth than body.
Some of the clergymen, many of their clerks
a considerable number of old ladies—nay, as we

are informed, of lisping children—were agitated
by fears, which among the ecclesiastics only, had a
definite or selfish meaning. But the bulk of the
people of England--the active, intcligent, powerful
people of England—kept far aloof from such osten-
tatious terrors, and declared themselves loudly for
the cause of political right. The two coaches to
'Windsor were most eloquent commentaries on the
public feeling. OH both shores of the Irish Chan-
nel, we are even now,—within eight days from the
passing of the Bill,—in the most profound internal
tranquillity. It is natural, therefore, that men
should begin to recall to mind the other standing in-
terests of the country, which it was equally natural
that they should for months past have forgotten.—
The fact is, that conversation has already changed
its subject, and that among many other topics,—
all of them secondary in value to emancipation,
but each of them, nevertheless, of treat intrinsic
price,—the foreign affairs of England have re-
sumed their rank in the general catalogue of
our concerns. People are anxious, though some-
what resigned, as to Portugal ; but they are
more anxious, because they believe themselves
more ignorant, about transactions in the East of
Europe. The last communication from his Ma-
jesty, in reference to such transactions, was a pro-
mise that he would use his best endeavours to re-

establish tranquillity between the Porte and Russia.
We do not go beyond the wishes of the country in
asking to what extent those well-meant endeavours
have proved successful or otherwise ? The nation

ought to know, and we state it with every friendly
and respectful feeling towards a Ministry which has
so well entitled itself to public confidence,—but the
nation ought, through some official organ,—as; for
instance, a Ministerial speech (we trust a Royal
message may not be absolutely requisite) in Par-
liament,—to be made acquainted with the pro-
gress, the present asrct, and the probable
issue of our relations with the Belligerents
in the East of :Europe; because the scene of
action, the nature of the operations,- maritime

and Inilitary, and the contingent results, may
be `..deb as deeply to affect the exercise of our com-
mercial freedom at present, and the guarantees for
its future enjoyment—for the safe navigation of the
Euxine and the Archipelago—for the undisturbed
prosperity of our insular possessions in those seas—
for the condition of Greece, and the security of

Egypt. We do not say that all or any of these in-
terests are endangered now ; but we affirm that the
seat and prospects of the continued war, are such as I
may involve them in peril; and that, recollecting
the many parties who have avowed their solicitude
about this aeemingly pregnant quarrel, and mixed in
the diplomacy to which it has given rise, with the
complex bearings upon the politics of Europe which
it indicates, we are of opinion that Parliament ought
210 t to be prorogued until some clear and decided
understanding upon the whole question of our con-
cerns with Greece, limsria, and Turkey—as, per-
haps, with one other Power—shall have been con-
veyed to the nation. No one who fairly appre-
ciates our dispositions will suspect us of a desire
to embarrass the King's Government by throw-
ing out these remarks. Our sincere and hearty
wish is to strengthen, not to thwart or torment, the
councils of the Duke of Wellington. His Grace has
won our highest esteem, and our most respectful con-
fidence, of which the proofs shall not be wanting when
the occasion suits. It is that Parliament and the
co-antry may have some opportunity of ascertaining
the fresh claims which we doubt not His Majesty's
present Minister will be able to establish upon the
concurrence and co-operation of the (in every
sense) " United" Kingdom, we look for some in-
sight into a mass of most important public business
which has grown within the last twelvemonths
under his Grace's policy, and which must have an
influence by no means inconsiderable on the future
well-being of British commerce. The Duke of
Wellington has nothing to fear at home : let him
then assure himself of an honest and energetic sup-
port from all classes in this country—from mer-
chants, agriculturists, Whigs, and Tories—from the
press, and from.the people, in whatever temperate
and reasonable tone of representation or remon- I
strance to foreign .Powers his sense of duty may
lead him to adopt, for the establishment and main-
tenance of a general peace throughout Europe. If
we did not know that his Grace was essentially a
pacific minister, we should be very backward in ex-
pressing such assurances; but if peace requires a
firm hand to restore it when interrupted, and to pre-
serve it when recovered, let him but throw himself
on his country, and he will find himself stoutly
backed.—Times.
The Dublin Morning Register of Friday last
contains the following statement :
" Pooa LAWS —We have the following from a source
entitled to our greatest confidence:—
" ' Poor Laws are decided upon fer Ireland. They
were yesterday resolved upon. The system will be mo-
dified. I cannot enter into details of the proposed arrange-
ment, but upon the main fact you may place the utmost
reliance.' "

It is no doubt intended by the paragraph to have
it thought that Ministers have decided on proposing
a modified system of Poor Laws for Ireland.
Whether there is any foundatioM for the statement,
we do not know. The introduction of Poor Laws
into Ireland will no doubt be attended with much
difficulty. There is in many parts of that country a
great want of that class from which the various
functionaries necessary to give effect to Poor Laws
are taken. But what great change was ever yet
effected without difficulty ? Thequestion is, would
a system of Poor Laws benefit the country; or ra-
ther, could the, competition of the poor for land, as
their only means of existence, be checked in any
other way than by Poor Laws ? The social
condition of Ireland is altogether an unnatural
one. " The origin of the present form of civil so-
ciety in Ireland (says the eloquent Dr. Arnold) was
conquest; and, wkat was more unfavourable to the
establishment of just institutions, it was a conquest