The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-23 00:00:00

PUBLIC OPINION.

The Times has no great opinion of Sir James Gra-
ham's statesmanship as regards his proposed amendment
of the Poor-law Bill, observing, "we only hope it may
not turn out to be something more positively mischievous
than we were prepared for. We should be betraying our
duty to the poor if- we did not advise them to abandon
all hope of good from a Minister who deals thus with the
people. Sir James Graham is evidently doing his best
to ruin the Government with which he is connected.
From the sample of his intended measure which he has
thought proper to disclose, we augur the worst of what
remains behind."

The Chronicle remarks that, as the chief of a new Mi-
nistry, Sir Robert Peel has made a great blunder ; as
the agent and champion of the food monopoly, he has
made a greater blunder. Both ways his error is irre-
trievable. But he can neither recall the past, nor avoid
the future. He must go on. He has to work through
the Legislature a law which the people are publicly dis-
cussing previously how to render of no effect as law. It
is doomed to contempt, hatred, and resistance, before it
is enacted.

The Advertiser has an article on the subject of certain
treaties entered upon between this country and some of
the Courts of the Continent, wherein our Contemporary
observes that Denmark will no doubt benefit herself by
these modifications of her Tariff, but that it will be
equally to the advantage of Great Britain, to meet that
Northern Power in the ports of this country in a spirit
of equal liberality. To lower duties on, is to cherish
commerce

The Post comments as follows on some remarks about
" the dependence of man upon man," made by Lord Pal-
merston in his late speech in the Commons:—" The de-
pendence of man upon man,' may, we repeat, be a very
delightful thing when the t dependence' is mutual. and
the conditions of the dependence' honest. But the
`dependence' to which free-trade must always lead
never can be mutual—its conditions never can be honest.
The very object of free-trade is Cheap production ;'
and cheap production involves, of necessity, a low re-
muneration to the labourer. The more widely, there-
fore, the principles of free-trade shall be acted on, the
deeper must become the misery of the labouring classes
—the more extensive must become the power of capitalist
and of idle consumers over the humble order of pro-
ducers."
The Herald observes in an article on the affairs of
Portugal :—" The abrogation of the ultra-liberal Con-
stitution of Portugal, and the restoration of the charter
of Done Pedro, is an affair which is of itself of little in-
terest. Portugal can scarcely be worse governed under
the one than she has been under the other. The abne-
gation of the necessary power from the Executive under
the Constitution, and the personal restraint and subser-
vience which is imposed on the Sovereign, sufficiently
account for its pnpopularity in the Court of Donna
Maria—for the Royal desire to return to the charter of
her august parent. If such only be the provocatives to
the recent revolution at Lisbon, it is, we repeat, an affair
of little intrinsic importance."

PARLIAMENTARY.
The Lords met last night, but transacted no business
of the least importance, and adjourned till Thursday.
In answer to Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Gladstone 'stated
that it was the intention of the Government to make
seven per cent., or whatever sum might be determined on
as a protection for our manufactures in the colonies, un-
der the Colonial Bill, a real bona fide protection to that
amount ; and not allow the Colonial Legislature to set
it aside, though they are to be allowed to continue any
differential duties they may think proper in addition to
the seven per cent._

In answer to Mr. Hindley, Sir Robert Peel stated that
the Government had used its influence to induce, the
Northern Powers to recognise the present Government
of Spain, but he could not tell when the recognition
would take place. The Right Eon. Baronet stated that,
under the present Government, Spain was making consi-
derable progress.
Mr. Cobden gave notice of a resolution, that, as Par-
liament admitted it would not regulate wages it ought
not to pass a law interfering with food, v+ithout first
inquiring into its effects on wages.
Mr. Murphy moved for papers to elucidate the de-
plorable transaction which cost Mr. Bell his life in
Central America, as already narrated in The Sun ; but
withdrew his motion on Lord Stanley explaining that
the Government had as yet only ex parte information on
the subject.

In answer to Lord John Russell Sir Robert Peel ex-
pressed himself anxious to have his Corn duties passed
as speedily as possible into a law, and that he should, at
the earliest opportunity, explain his financial views in a
Committee of Ways and Means.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced, in an-
swer to a question, that the Government had a measure
in hand to correct the state of the coinage.
The adjourned debate on Mr. Villiers' motion was
again resumed, and occupied the House for the evening.
It was again adjourned.

MONEY—TRADE—COMMERCE.
At West Bromwich nearly all the men are out of
work, and the utmost destitution prevails among the poor.
COMMERCIAL REFORM.

A great out-door meeting was held at Manchester on
Monday evening in Stevenson's-square. There were no
less than 7,000 men assembled on the occasion under the
full moon, and a larger meeting has not taken place
within the last ten years. A report will be found in anu-
ther part of The Sun.
An important meeting took place at Wolverhampton
on Tuesday, composed of the leading men of the town
and the Chartists, between whom a common union was
made, and both joined in resolutions for the removal of
the Premier from office, and petitions to the Queen were
carried to that effect.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
The Roman Government, it is said, has authorised the
Bishop of Algiers to build 10 new churches there, and to
have his own cathedral enlarged.
The Latter Day Saints assert that out of 600 religious
creeds now upon earth, all are in the dark but themselves.
One of their apostles declared last week, at Manchester,
that their preachers could take poison without injury,
could heal sick by touching of hands, handle serpents
without hurt, and speak and interpret in unknown
tongues.

maw AND POLICE.
At Clerkenwell, yesterday, a Russian, of the name of
Bowmski, was charged with stealing, on the 4th inst.,
a gold watch, value fifty guineas, the property of Mr.