The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-07 00:00:00

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At the same time, society is not benefited by
the punishmdnt they inflict on themselves. It is
no compensation to the numerous families im-
poverished in order to raise the rent of this Lord
or that Marquis, that the extorted opulence only
ends in degrading the extortioners. It is no com-
pensation to traders, that the restrictions which ruin
them to enrich my Lord, really enrich the classes
of persons which those trials have brought under
the public notice. That the wealth extorted
from the poor, anl that restrictions imposed on
trade do not, in fact, serve to raise up and cherish
a high-minded set of gentlemen, cultivating all
the graceful arts, and inquiring into all kinds of
science, but that it increases the number of cour-
tesans, usurers, and gamblers in society, is a
gross aggravation of the injury which the poor and
the traders affirm they suffer at the hand of the
law. Society is, in truth, quite as much injured
by numerous immoral classes being called into
existence by the wanton extravagance of the
upper classes, as by restrictions which are im-
posed on industy to enrich them.

Intelligence has been brought by the Levant
mail, from Constantinople, to the 17th ult., and
from Alexandria to the 10th. Considerable
changes were expected to take place in the dif-
ferent departments of the Administration. The
Divan had granted permission for the establish-
ment of a French newspaper at Constantinople,
to appear on the Ist of this month. Syria still
continues in a very disturbed state, the particu-
lars of which will be found in another part of
the paper.

We have accounts fr7mt Madrid to the 28th,
hut they are without interest. According to in-
telligence from the Spanish frontier of the Ist
inst., the insurgents at Barcelona were about to
surrender to ESPARTERO, with the exception of
some 200 militia men, and those most compro-
mised in the revolt, who had not the means to
fly. Considerable forces were marching from
every direction to reinforce ESPARTERO, who
would find himself at the head of 30,000 men.
The emigration from Barcelona still continued.
Upon the Madrid Exchange on the 28th, the
Three per Cents. were at 21/ for ready money,
and 211 i• at sixty days' date. .15,800,000 reals
were done in the Five perCentto at 26i ready
money, and 26L 9-16 I at sixty flays' date, with
the 12 coupons. •

„,••••--
The insurrection at Barcelona stilroccupies the
?aris journals, and furnishes the ground of a
violent attack on the French Goviithment in the
Courricr Francais. It admits the fact, which
has been occasionally adverted to in The Sun,
that France has not a single ally in Europe,
This rouses the ire of the Christine journal, the
Presse, which denounces in strong terms the in-
gratitude of the Spanish nation •for the many
good acts of the French towards the country. A
very pretty, sort of quarrel it is, but we will allow
the contending parties to speak fbr themselves :
"Before the events at Barcelona,” says the for-
mer
journal, "we declared how necessary it was
for the French Government to resume relations
with Spain. It appeared to us that France had
no need to consider the character or tendency of
the regime which was in force at the other side
of the Pyrenees. It is with the Spanish people
that we make an alliance, carry on trade, and re-
ciprocate sympathy. What matter is it then to
us what the form of government may be, if the

SUN OFFICE Three o'Clock.

No doubt now remains that Sir R. PEET, and
the Irish Bishops are not quite of one Opinion on
the subject of education in Ireland. The Pro-
testant clergy, disapproving of the National
Board instituted by the late Government, formed
a separate association for the purpose of training
the children committed to their care in the
principles of the Established Church, and, as a
natural consequence, of excluding from the
schools all the children of Catholics, Pres-
byterians, and Dissenters. To such a sys-
tem all who wish to see political and
religious rancour swept away must decid-
edly object, and we, therefore, rejoice that
Sir R. PEEL has discountenanced a plan which
could only tend to keep up animosities and throw
additional odium on a Church not viewed with
much complacence by the Catholic population.
Sonic weeks since, a number of Bishops.made an
application to the Government for a grant of
money to this ,new Board, and, after mature de-
liberation, the Minister replied that the grant to
the National Board would be continued, and that
lie must decline propoSing a vote for the Church
Education Society. The Bishops have, therefore,
issued a circular to the respective secretaries
announcing these facts, and at the same time
calling upon the friends of the Church to use
their best exertions to raise funds by voluntary
subscriptions. To this circular there can be no
objection. It is drawn up in a Christian spirit,
displays much moderation, and disowns any per-
verse opposition to the Government, in its endea-
vours to heal the wounds occasioned by party and
religious distinctions. We only regret that men
who have so much in their power, and whose
interest it is above that of all others, to put an
end to the dissensions which have caused so
much bloodshed in that unfortunate country,
have considered it their duty to oppose the Go-
vernment in this humane and noble attempt.
Catholic priests are as jealous of any interference
with the religious tenets of their flocks as most
others, yet they in general approve of the
National Board, and can see no danger in the
plan, but, on the contrary, great good, in allow-
ing children of different creeds to associate in the
same schools, and form attachments which will
not be forgotten in after-life. The exclusive
spirit which has all along been displayed
by the Irish Church has been the bane
of the country, and it is lamentable to
find, in the present age of improvement,
that it is still as rife as ever, and threatens to re-
vive animosities which were fast wearing away.
What can a Church, already tottering to its fall,
gain by such a vain and bigoted scheme ? The
Government, however, have done their duly, and
we trust, notwithstanding the secession of the
Bishops, will be successful in removing those dis-
tinctions and prejudices which have for years
rendered Ireland a thorn in the side of this
country.

The examinations of the creditors of some
noble insolvents and bankrupts have made us
acquainted with the dunned sort of lives they
lead, and the company they keep. Instead of
enjoying themselves in refined society, in intel-
lectual pursuits, or in the cultivation of arts
which tend to improve themselves and others,
they consort with griping money-lenders, men of
a bad character, second and third-rate attorneys,
fourth-rate tradesmen, and the men of straw, who
are put forward to bear the ignominy of their
transactions, should they be brought to light.
In like manner the recent trial, SMITH v. BOND,
placed before the world a considerable number
of persons, highly connected, associating night
after night with needy gamblers, com-
mon informers, and persons whom every
respectable man would cautiously shun. Per-
sons of that description, with the women and
valets of such a man as Lord HERTFORD, do
justice on the noble libertines, and revenge society
for their infractions of decency and morality.
To be surrounded and preyed on by harpies of
the most revolting species, to be exposed to all
their rudeness and vulgarity, must be pretty nearly
equal to a seclusion for a time in Northleach,
and, though the vices of these noble persons are
far fitter objects for the legislator to strike at
than the quarrels of illiterate peasants, we ask
him not to add the tread-mill to the self-degrada-
tion they inflict. They are punished enough.
We hope, however, that the public at large will
take notice of the company kept by many of the
upper classes, and give up the hope, if it were
ever entertained, of the improvement of society
from their influence.