The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-18 00:00:00

PUBLIC- OPINION.

The Post is angry with Mr. Roebuck for his late
speech in the Commons, observing, " this gentleman, like
others of his sect, fancies himself a thinker. He affects
to scorn authority, and professes to try all institutions,
and all systems of opinion, by their conformity with cer-
tain first principles. Yet Mr. Roebuck is all the while
merely moving in a circle of chalk—a circle described by
Bentham and Bentham's pupils."
The Advertiser is of opinion that the present political
crisis is an awful one, and adds, " it is not the fate or for-
tune of one class or section of the people that is menaced
with mortal damage ; it is the fate or fortune of the
country itself—of her people of all classes, and of all
occupations. We much mistake the character of English-
men, if the time has not now arrived when Nature's first
law, self-preserration, will assert its potency."
The Herald insists that Lord John Russell, so far
from assisting his party by his motion, has only assisted
to bring forth the strength of the Ministry. ".Messrs.
Villiers, Cobden, and C 0.," pursues our Contemporary,
" are to be permitted to have their little-go this even-
ing, for the satisfaction of their confederates of the
League; but the important debate on the Ministerial
proposition, and on those principles which shall govern
practical legislation on the Corn-law, is over.
The Times,- comparing the present with the late
Ministry, expresses itself to the following effect
late Ministry had no strength, except what they derived
from the support of men of extreme opinions, pur •
chased by a subserviency to party views and party pur-
poses. Steady moderation was a phrase which had no
place in their system ; their Government was a com-
pound of humiliating dependence and insolent defiance.
The present Ministry, on the contrary, are characterised
by a rejection of all extreme views, of whatever kind.
They are the champions of no particular interests, though
they may decline to sacrifice them."
The Chronicle says How miserably has the Right
Honourable Baronet floundered in trying to produce a
cause to servo as a feasible substitute for the Corn-law,
in accounting for the distress of the country !
llasth-, the Member for Paisley, on Wednesday night
made sad has cc with some of his causes. In fact, he
convicted :dr Robert of nearly as great ignorance of the
true state of things in accounting for our commercial
distress, as he had formerly displayed when denying
its existence."
The Wilts Independent observes of Sir Robert Peel :
" He has placed himself in a most unenviable position
he has pleased no one. He has broken faith with those
who looked upon the present Corn-laws as something
sacred, and on himself as their sworn champion ; he has
disappointed the Whigs—the fixed duty men—and he
has (low any thing but throw oil on the troubled waters
of total repeal. He is like the old man and his ass--in
trying to please every one, he has pleased no one ; and
it will be well, if, like his prototype, he do not lose his
beast of burden."
The Derby Reporter thus alludes to the Ministerial
Corn-law measure :—" Nothing can exceed the dissatis
faction which the proposal has excited in all places and
with all people. The very journals of the Tories cannot
trumpet it into popularity
.with their own party—the Li-
beral press is unanimous in discountenancing the trea-
chery. No one believes for a moment that this is the
settlement of a great question ; even the Tories accept it
simply as a first instalment. Lord John Russell's
amendment may not be successful now—but a concession
has been made, an impulse has been given to the party
which demands an entire repeal of the Corn-laws."
The following is from the SherbourneJournal :—" We
think that Sir Robert Peel has acted with as much libe-
rality:, if not more, than he could with safety ; but we
infinitely prefer Lord John Russell's proposal for a fixed
duty, because, whilst it offers a protection to the nricul-
tunst, it opens a new channel for our manufacturing in-
dustry, and it would lead to the lands being let at corn
rents, and under fair and reasonable leases."
- The Cork Southern Reporter has the following obser-
vations, suggested by the recent debate :—" The English
people carried the Tories into power ; and, in the midst
of unheard of distress, waited calmly and patiently for
the promised redress from their favoured Minister. They
have been disappointed ; and they are now about to
commence the agitation in good earnest, but, unhappily,
at a time when Sir Robert Peel, protected by the majo-
rity which the people gave him, may afford to laugh at
their threats and demonstrations ; and when the Duke of
Wellington, entrenched within so secure a protection, may
once more, with scornful defiance, call their meetings and
their conferences " useless farces."

PARLIAIYIEN TAFLY.
In the House of Lords last night there was a little squabble
,be-
tweet) the Earl of C'ancarty, an Ultra-Tory, and the Duke of Vv el.
bugtoo, about producing some returns connected with the appoint.
meat of chaplains to workhouses in Ireland. The object cf the Noble
Earl was to throw discredit on the appointments of the Poor-
law Commissioners, because the chaplains are not of our
own Church. He was kindly countenanced by the Bishop
of Exeter, but repudiated by the Duke of Wellington, Lord
Brougham, and the Marquis of Normanby. The Noble Ei,rl
withdrew his motion, as his Noble Friend the Duke of Wellington
would not grant it.

The House of Commons did not meet yesterday.
Sir Charles Letnon was elected on Wednesday last for
West Cornwall, without opposition.
Lord Bernard, son of the Earl of Bandon, has been
elected, ivithout opposition, Member for the borough of
Bandon.

LAW AND POLICE.
At a meeting of the Middlesex Magistrates on Wed-
nesday, an address was on the spot suddenly drawn up,
and agreed to by the Justices present, acknowledging
manner in which the Duke of Portland had filled the
high and important post of Lord Lieutenant of the
county for the last. flft n
y years. the
In the Court of Exchequer yesterday, Mr. Gye, for
many years one of the proprietors of Vauxhall Gardens,
brought an action to recover remuneration for his ser-