The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-19 00:00:00

PUBX. IC OPINION.

The Morning Chronicle insiststhat., notwithstanding
the large majorities by which its most obnoxious mea-
sures have been supported, the Ministry is not so strong
low as it appeared at the commencement of the ses-
don, and adds :—" It is impossible td doubt that the
vhole course of the Ministry has given the deepest dis-
iatisfaction to their supporkers. Every step that Sir
Robert Peel has taken, has been a 'heavy blow and great
liscouragement' to the Tory party. A great portion of
he agriculturists have been completely alienated from
lint by his Corn-law—still greater has been the disgust
!mated among the same class by his Tariff. The agri-
•ulturists generally regard the Government as having
crossly and needlessly betrayed them ; and without now
riving an opinion at; to whether Sir Robert Peel has done
right in sacriticit.hiS supporters to the public good, we
.annot deny that ttioy have a right to complain of him.
the rage of this`chiss of his supporters at, the late elec-
ion falls first on him, and secondly on their own repre-
sentatives, who have either supported him in his ob-
loxious measures, or have met them with an inefficient
,r rather counterfeit opposition. Another large class of
~he supporters of the Tory indignant
it are equally
it the course pursued by the Government with respect
o the Poor-law"

The Post finds fault with the flippant manner in which
he House of Cominons has dealt with the recent cases
,f bribery and corruption at elections, observing—
' Thera has been something ridiculous in the way in
vhieh the House of Commons has proceeded with regard
o the allegations 'of bribery. But the absurdity is not
that which arises from gravely noticing in particular
lases that which is notoriously a general practice. It is
hat which arises from dealing with a subject of great
;ravity and-importance—one affecting directly and im-
nediately the morality of the representative system of a
great nation—as if it were sonic trivial matter of ordi-
lary legislative curiosity. An affair of greater gravity
has not for years been submitted to the House of Com-
lions than that which has lately engaged its attention in
• reference to boroagh elections—a matter which the
erime Minister himself describes as one of immense im-
iortance ; and yet the House has gone into it suddenly
and without consideration, upon the instigation of an
Honourable Member, having no reputation for soundness
,f judgment, and who merely jumped at a rumour which
attracted his attention, as the swift but foolish mackarel
loes at a bit of red cloth hung upon a hook."
We take the following from the Herall The un-
saralleled depression in trade throughout the country
still continues ; few sytnptoms of alteration, much less of
improvement, are visible ; and in every provincial town,
is well as in the metropolis, there is but one feeling
:;'xisi,ing—it is dread to enter on any business tramiaction
which can be avoided. Yet is there no pressure on the
aoney market ; on the contrary, that market is abso-
.utely plethoric. So abundant is capital in the City, that
good bills can be discount: l at 3 per cent. ; and many of
lie first merchants, instead of employing their money in
he ordinary way of business, are seeking for its invest-
ient on loan—fortunate if they can obtain 43- per cent.
['here can be no question that this is a state of things
vhich will not continue for any length of time, and that
money will presently, though gradually, get. into more
4.eneral circulation, and give, by a rise of prices„conli-
thence to traders, and the power to renew those transac-
tions,Which a scarcity of money has lately rendered im-
possible. But that prospect must not make us lose sight
of the dreadful and universal inconvenience and loss
which are in the mean time inflicted on the community -;
for it must be remembered, that although a severe de-
pression. or "panic, as it is now commonly termed, is
usually followed by a great and often sudden prosperity,
yet enormous misery and demoralisation are produced
by the depressiOn, and evil to an immense extent is
realised and left for the production of future calamities." .
The Times says :—" The extent to Which bribery pre-