The Sun.
London, England, 1827-06-15 00:00:00

PUBLIC DISTRESS.

•
How little the first inventors of many arts suspect
the important effects upon society they are instru-
mental in producing. Glass kyads opened the way
for the conquest of South America. The art of
making cutlery facilitated the establishment of our
power in India. The knowledge of the compass
caused the discovery of the New World; and the
Art of Printing has caused the regeneration of the
Old. When the inventor of steam-engines first in-
tended to render them a substitute for water or
horses, he little thought of the moral influence of his
invention; that if applied to navigation, it would
virtually alter the geography of nations, bring almost
together those previously distant, and intimately
connect in social and political communion federal
and disjointed States. As relates to Great Bdtain,
steam navigation has actually been as a bridge be-
tween England and Ireland, and is about to bring
home to England the lesson that she must suffer by
her own injustice, and that if she does not elevate
Ireland in the scale of nations,,lreland will inevitably
lower her. A century of philosophy and abstract
reasoning could not have so clearly illustrated this
position, as steam navigation has done in a few
years.
Historians and politicians have been lost in spe-
culation concerning the swarms of people which we
are told issued from the Northern hive. The exam-
ple of modern Ireland has solvedthe problem. • It is
proved that population increases with poverty and
social degradation ; and that in depriving men of all
possibility of obtaining any of the superfluities or
comforts of existence, you deprive them of that fore-
sight which, before undertaking the cares of a family,
considers how to provide for its subsistenCe. Ex-
cessive poverty is a source of excessive population.
Hitherto the sea operated as a dam to arrest the tor-
rent of pauperism overflowing upon England, but
steam navigation has now made a channel through
which it will overflow and inundate that country.
The lesson is at last brought home to the very
doors of Englishmen—that, in self-defence, they
must now do something for Ireland. But what
will they do with the multitude of poor which en-
cumber us at home, and now threaten to swarm upon
England ? Emigration is a palliative : it may afford
a partial relief, but a pauper population will more
than replace it. Beside, it is the most improved
and industrious portion of the community who will
avail themselves of it—even the converts will, in
self-defence, become emigrants! No radical benefit
can be obtained by emigration. The object should
be to render the condition of the people better in the
country, not to send them out of it. Public works
may be useful to a certain extent, but still even
these must be local and limited in their operation.
A system of Poor Laws, avoiding its defects as prac-
tised in England; a system which would make it
necessary for the resident, and particularly the non-
resident proprietors, either to support the poor or to
diminish their number by bettering theire b
condition.
This This has been suggested originally we
Dr. Grattan, and is, we confess, hourly gaining
ground in public opinion. It must do good as far
as it goes, but we confess that without ameliorating
the general political condition, we have no reliance
upon any measure—although, in conjunction with
political amelioration, this and many other mea-
sures may have great practical efficacy. Are
we asked, what do we call political amelioration ?
We answer—first, equal laws—second, an equal
and impartial administration of them. The for-
mer can only be accomplished by abrogating the
penal statutes—the latter, by withholding all situa-
tions of a judicial or civil character from political
partizans. It is said—what ! feed the Irish poor by
giving a few dozen situations of trust and emolu-
ment to the Catholics ? Softly, shallow cavillers !
If equal civil privileges are indeed so insignificant is
their nature as to be no' benefit to the Catholics,
must they not be, consequently, so insignificant as
not to be dangerous to us ? But they know little of
the history of nations or of human nature, who esti-
mate political measures by the quantum of individual
injury or benefit contained in them, instead of by
the principle they involve, and the indirect effects
which follow. Catholic Emancipation is, therefore,
to be measured by its moral influence upon society,
not by the quantum of political power it gives.
Exclusive laws divide society into two great de-
nominations, and operate in the actual perpetration
of subordinate injustice. Thus society is embittered
and enflamed—the natural relations between the
various ranks of men are obliterated—life and pro-
perty become insecure—capital, industry, civilization,
and property cannot co-exist—and this is our answer
to those who ask us what good emancipation caa
do to the Irish poor ?—Dublin Patriot.

AMERICAN METHOD OF RECOVERING
SrroLENTßovEaTv.—The gentleman who politely walked
into the house, No. 37, Broadway, the evening before
last, and helped himself to two boots, is respectfully in-
formed they are not mates. Wishing to encourage the
liberal arts, he is hereby notified, that if he will return one
boot, he will obtain another to match, as the two boots he
has taken and two boots he has left are rendered perfectly
useless."—New York Courier. '

DINNER BY THE EAST INDIA COMPANY

TO SIR JOHN 111ALCOLAI.

Wednesday evening the Directors of the East India Com-
pany gave a dinner to Sir John Malcolm, on his appoint-
ment to the Presidency of Bombay, at the Albion Tavern,
Aldersgate-street. Among the distinguished personages
present were, the Duke of Wellington, the Marquis of
Lansdowne, the Earl of Carlisle, Lords Dudley, Villiers,
Clive, Eliot, and Powis, the Right Hon. George Canning,
Sturges Bourne, W. Huskisson, C. Wynn, the Attorney-
General, the Solicitor-General; the Hon. Mr. Abercrom-
bie, Hon. D. Haliburton, Mr. Herries, Admiral Sir George
Cockburn, Sirs James Mackintosh, Coutts Trotter, J.
Lubbock, Charles Forbes, Colin Campbell, James Cole-
brook, W. W. Wynn, Christopher Cole, Robert Elliott,
and James Shaw, Barts., Colonels Bailey, Hart, &c. &c.
The dinner, consisting of turtle, venison, and every spe-
cies of viands that the season could afford, was served al-
together on silver plate, en suite. The wines consisted of
every variety, and were of the rarest and most costly kind;
and the banquet was conducted altogether in a style of the
most princely Eastern magnificence. About 130 sat down
to dinner.

The Hon. Hircit LYNDSAY, the Chairman of the East
India Company, in the Chair.

On his right Sir John Malcolm, and to the left his
Grace the Duke of Wellington, in his uniform as Colonel
of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, and wearing the Star
of the Bath.

On the removal of the cloth "The Wykehamist's Gran"
was sung by Messrs. Leete, Terraile, Golden, Broadhurst,
and Taylor, who, during the course of the evening, enter-
tained the company with several catches and glees.
After the customary loyal toasts, the CHAIRMAN said,
he now came to the more immediate cause for which they
were honoured by the presence of this distinguished com-
pany. It was to congratulate, on his appointment to the
Government of Bombay, one whose diplomatic and military
services to the Company had now raised him to one of the
highest situations which they had it in their power to
bestow. Of his merits, qualifications; and talents, more
need not be said than his appointment of itself would convey.
" The health of Sir John Malcolm, and success to his
Government of Bombay."—(Great applause.)
Sir JOHN MALCOLM returned his thanks for the kind
reception his name had just met with. It might perhaps
better answer his purpose, if he said but a few words ; but
his heart was too full, and his feelings too strong, to be
denied utterance. It was true that he had been sent out
to India almost a child, and his only aim was, how best
to discharge his duties both to the Company and his native
land. It had been his lot to see nearly all the great and
remarkable events which had occurred there during the last
35 years, and the only feeling he now entertained, when
he looked back and saw how little he had been able to per-
form in their service, was wonder at the confidence they
had bestowed on him—a confidence which he would not
venture to place in himself. But though he hesitated not
to undertake the ardent duties the Company had been that
day pleased to make his, yet they must not expect aught
more from him than an ardent zeal in their service.—
(Hear. )—When lie looked around and saw so many distin-
guished individuals, several of them his earliest and best
friends, he felt an accumulation of motives to induce him
to be a true and faithful servant. He could not help re-
marking, that the day of his appointmont should be the 43d
anniversary of one of the most celebrated battles in Indian
history (the name did not reach us). But there were other
inducements. He should never forget that eight years since,
the Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the Administra-
tion of Great Britain had recommended him to the East
India Company, for a situation of a nature and duties
similar to those he had now to fulfil. To have deserved
the notice of him, whose great and distinguished sta-
tion was even less than the splendour of his talents
and the almost omnipotence of his mind, was an incentive
for honourable exertion of no weak nature.—(Heari hear.)
He could not forget, that in India he bad become`acquaint-
ed with that great man who represented his Sovereign in
the sister island, and under whose paternal care and wise
Councils he had been nurtured ; and he felt-assured, if that
illustrious Nobleman could have spared himself from his
high office, lie would have attended to -congratulate his
humble pupil on the honours he rove enjoyed.;:—(Heer.)—
Under Lord Wellesley he had been,:sesseiated with many
friends new around him, and particularly wittr that- great
and noble friend near him, (turning to the Duke of Wel-
lington) in ties of friendship, which•had ever since remain-
ed without change, and would, he • hoped, continue un-
changeable. He had been associated with that great man
when lie laid the foundation of his future glory, and al-
ready established for himself a fame which only himself
had since excelled.—(Loud applause.)—lt was most pleas-
ing to him, on such a delightful occasion as the present,
to see those individuals around him. The gratitude he
felt for the unanimous manner in which distinction had
been conferred upon him by the Board of Directors, he
could not express; it would prove a solace to his mind at'
periods, and under circumstances, when it would be most
required ; and (concluded Sir John) " I trust I shall not
fail in fulfilling the anticipations which you have formed."
(Loud applause.)
The CHAIRMAN—In rising to propose " The health of
his Majesty's Ministers," I have only to express that hope
which the public so generally entertain, that their eminent
talents, unwearied zeal, and ability, will gain for them the
high reward which their services to the country must
entitle them to. With much satisfaction, I propose
" The health of the Right Honourable George Canning,
and the rest of his Majesty's Ministers." (Tremendous
cheering for several minutes ; during the continuance of
which)—
Casimuo rose, and spoke to the following purport:
—Mr. Chairman, on behalf of my colleagues and myself,
whom you have associated in the toast now drank, allow
inc to thank this company for the manner in which it has
been received. We feel that we deserve no support, and
we claim none, but in so far as our exertions may contri-
bute to the general advantage and happiness of the people.
—(Cheers.)—We seek no aid but as we shall be found to
deserve it. Gentlemen, there is no body of men in the
country from whom such a compliment as you have now
bestowed could conic to us with greater welcome. I be-
lieve there is no example in the history of the world, on
the one hand, of such a company as that which your Chair-
man represents—and on the other, of two co-equal and
concurrent authorities, which for so long a series of years
have conducted, without shock or conflict, the Adminis-
tration of, I had almost said, so tremendous an empire.
Gentlemen, the extent of the vast empire over which the
East India Company more immediately presides, is as fear-
ful as it is extraordinary, and it is a disproof of the com-
mon adage, that little wisdom is required for governing
mankind, to consider such a machine—if I may use the
expression—as one hundred millions of souls kept to-
gether with so much comparative happiness, and so
little confusion. But, Gentlemen, the greatness of this
empire has had its natural effect ; for, I will venture
to say, there cannot be found in the history of Europe the
existence of any monarchy, which, within a given time,
has produced so many men of the first talents in civil and
military life, as India has first trained for herself, and then
given to her native country.—(Loud cheers.)—lf the com-
pliment to his Majesty's Ministers be pleasing from the
East India Company, it is doubly so on this occasion, when
that Company concurs with his Majesty's Government in
sending back to India a man whom you have brought home
for a time that lie might point to the deeds he had done in
your service, and that wisely remembering him you might
restore him with power and the opportunity which will
tend alike to the completion of your advantage, and his own
reputation.—(Hear.)—It is perfectly true, as the Gallant
Officer has himself stated, that eight years ago I recom-
mended to your notice—not knowledge, for that would
have been superfluous—those individuals then in your ser-
vice, whose respective claims, although differing, and of
various sorts, were yet so equally valuable, that it became
a task of difficulty to select from them—l mean Mr. El-
phinstone, Sir Thomas Munro, and Sir John Malcolm. By
accident rather than preference, the former gentlemen were
then appointed ; but if Sir John Malcolm had been behind
them in opportunity and time, lie will, I trust, prove ulti-
mately equal to them in the advantages which this Com-
pany shall derive from his services.—(Loud applause.)
The next toast was—" The Right Hon. Charles Wynn,
the President of the Board of Controut for the Affairs of
India."

Mr. WYNN expressed his thanks for the approbation
rendered by the Company at the performance of his duties.
Those duties, though some of them are of an invidious na-
ture, Were mixed with others of a most agreeable descrip-
tion. It was impossible to peruse the records achieved by
the Company's servants in India, and net find reason to
glory in the 'name of Britain. He 'would congratulate Sir

John Malcolm, not so much on his account, but for the sake
of India and his native land, on the extended sphere about
to be given for his usefulness. Mr. Wynn concluded by
drinking the health of the Chairman, who briefly acknow-
ledged the compliment.
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of his Grace the
Duke of .Wellington, and in doing so said he could not but
associate with his great and illustrious name that army
which he had so often guided to victory.
" The Duke of Wellington and the British Army."—
(Loud cheers.)
The Duke of WELurtoTox—l beg to return you my
warns thanks for the honour vou have conferred. I have
always attended these meetings with great pleasure, but on
no occasion have I ever derived more satisfaction than this,
when we are met to congratulate the gallant officer on his
appoint to the high station to which be Las been so
deservedly called. Thitty years have elapsed since I be-
came acquainted with my Hon. Friend in the service of
the East India Company. At that time he filled a subal-
tern station ; but froM that time to this no event conse-
quence, whether political or military, occurred in the an-
nals of that country, with which his name has not been
associated. The history of his life is one series of advan-
tages derived therefrom to the country which he served.
Under these circumstances, it is not astonishing that, after
an alquaiutance of so many years, I should be delighted
to attend here this day to congratulate my friend.—(Hear.)
--But it is not only on that account that I rejoice at his
sleva-'i:on—it is impossible that such an appointment can
have been made without exciting the honourable ambition
of his heart to repay, by' is Services, the meed of distinc-
tion and confidence you have reposed in him.—(Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN said, they were honoured with the pre-
Bence of a learned divine, about to embark for India, and
whose eminent talents qualify him 'for the high situation
which he has been called on to fill---" Dr. James, the new
Bishop of Calcutta."
The Bishop of CALCUTTA thanked the company, and as-
sured them, that aifar as he could, he would endeavour to
discharge bis duties with fervour and seal. He could pro-
mise that he would not be led astray by the false and
dazzling light of honour or emolument ; he would hold on
his course steadfastly, whether amid the cheers or the jeers
of the world ; his object should be utility, not approbation
—success, not applause.
_ _ _

The following toasts were then given from the chair
Lord Amherst, and our Government in Bengal," by Sir
John Malcolm.—" Sir Thomas Munro and Mr. Elphin-
stone."—" Sir Archibald Campbell, and the gallant Army
lately employed against the Burmese."—" The City of
London, and the Trade thereof." Sir James Shaw re-
turned thanks.—" The Officers, Civil, Naval, and
Illilitary, who have rendered distinguished services in
India." The company retired at II o'clock.
Mr. Canning's carriage was the first that took up, and
the people, who assembled in great crowds outside the
tavern, loudly cheered the Right Hon. Gentleman as he
entered the carriage, and continued their cheers as he passed
along the street. The Duke of Wellington next appeared,
and was hissed and groaned by the same concourse. As
the Marquis of Lansdowne and Lord Carlisle departed, the
cheers were repeated. No notice was taken of any other
of the company.