The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-18 00:00:00

FRENCH PLAYS, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

Mr. MITCHELL begs respectfully to announce that Monsieur Per,
Jet's Performances will pos tvely terminate this Evening.
THIS EVENING, MARCH 18,

The Performances will coinmence at half-past Seven o'clock with
I,'HOMME DE SOIXANTE ANS.—Le Chevalier de St. Julien by
Mons. Perlet.
After which, LE SAVANT.—ltcyn,lds M. Perlet.
To conclude with M. PIQUE- SKr; rti—Pique-Avietto, Muns.
Perlet, being his Anal performance, and the Lot representation before
Easter.

Mademoiselle Plessy will have the honour of appearing at the
Opening of the Theatre after Ea.,ter.
Private Boxes and Stalls at Mr. Mitchell's Library, 33, Old Bond-
eet ; Mr. Seguin's, 12, Regent-street; Mr. Sams's, St. James's-
street ; and at the Box.offiee of the Theatre, which is open daily
from Eleven till Five. Admission to the Boxes, 6s. ; Pit, 3s. 6d. ;
Gallery Stals, 3s. ; Gallery, 2s.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The letter from Totness on " Naval Affairs" was duly received,
but owing to the press of matter we have net been able to
fi id room for it.

We will endeavour to make rJoln for some of the numerous
letters of Correspondents respecting the income tax as soon
as possible.

THE WEATHER.—Noori, MARCH 18.
lloy AI. GALLERY OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE-STREET.
Thermometer... 43) Highest 52 Lowest 40
Barometer 29.93.—Wind W.—Freezing Point R 2 Deg.

.....
Him; NV ATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS DAY.
)'orning l5 minutes after 5 ► Evening 15 minutes after S.

:~ r~'A

1L

, MA

which he has but a year's interest ; and to the extent of
the permanent value of such improvements is the land-
lord a loser. He must be aninlifferent farmer, who,
living upon a leased holding, does not nearly
double its value twenty-one years ; whereas,
land held for that period by a tenant at will
is invariably found in Ireland to be depreciated in value.
But from communications addressed to .us on the
subject of the ejectments by the Ironmongers' Com-
pany, we learn that their object is to substitute for the
cotter system that of large farms, on the model gene-
rally adopted in the agricultural districts of England.
Such a system is only suited to a great commercial
country, where manufactures offer employment to
the poor families driven from their rural. homes,
to make way for agricultural improvements upon a large
scale. To adopt it in Ireland, would be to condemn the
tjected tenants to inevitable starvation. It is a pity that
the experiments of experimentalists upon human happi-
ness, cannot, in the first instances, be confined en-
tirely to themselves. Let but the members of the
Ironmongers' Company place themselves, in imagina-
tion, in the position of these poor tenants, whose fathers
and grandfathers before them, sat by the same firesides,
in the same chimney corners occupied by themselves,
and tell us what misery would exceed their expulsion
from such homes, where their early habits only fitted
them to live ? We trust that the public notice which
this affair has attracted will not be lost upon-the Iron-
mongers' Company, and that an inquiry will be insti-
tuted by them, which will have the effect of preventing
further appeals on the part of the tenants to the protec—
don of the Legislature.

Without stating at what period, or to what extent, the
. _

plum claims should be satisfied, we are clearly of
opinion that it is the duty of the Government to lose
no time in coming to some determination respecting
them. Ministers are bound to state at once whe-
ther the country will, or will not, pay them. It
:ust—it is not creditable—it is not politic,
even in a party sense, to kayo the question of
the settlement of these claims contingent upon the
results of the war with China. If the Government
is satisfied that the claims ought to be rejected, let it say
so, and the merchants will not, in addition to their loss
of property, lose their time in the fruitless labour of en-
deavouring to obtain its value from the British Treat
sury. If, on the other hand; Ministers are persuaded
of the equity of these claims, or of any part of them, let
the fact be announced, and the nation will know for what
purpose we exact money from the Chinese. But to keep
silent upon the matter, leaving the question of justice to
be determined by the result of the war in China, is a
lamentable course of proceeding. Now sora:-thing like
this was the course pursued by the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER and Sir R. PEEL, upon Mr. LEthSAY'S mo-
tion last night respecting the application of the Canton
ransom money. The only inference to be drawn from
their speeches was, that after the settlement of the
war and the deduction of the expenses of this; country,
the cluitns'of the opium merchants Would probably be
next considered. If these claims be bad, those
making them can have no right to consideration, were
the wealth of China accumulated in one heap at the
feet of Sir 11. POTTINGER. No success of our arms can
render them one jot more equitable than they are at pre-
sent. Again, if they be good, say so, and tell the world
frankly that the indemnity can only come from China.
This dues not,impose upon us the expense of the war,
That expense may still be exacted front the Celestilds.
It only guarantees the settlement of the claims, before
the defraying the expense of the expedition—a priority
which Sir it. PEEL must be aware cannot be denied
these claims, if recognised at all, without casting a stain
upon the honour of the country.

not

There is no political news of any interest in French or
Spanish papers received this morning. We therefore
content ourselves with the following extracts from them :
A Toulon letter of the 7th inst., in the National, says that
6,000 or 7,000 ram arc about to be sent into Africa, to fill up
the regiments there to their war complement. The Marengo,
of the line, and the steamers Veloce, Cameleon, Vantour, and
Lavoisier, are, says the letter, to convey these troops.
A letter from Toulon, March 11, in the Constitutionnel, says,
" The transport vessel the Lamproie, arrived oa the Bth, from
Barcelona, with passengers. She brings word that money had
been received at Barcelona to procure partisans for the cause
of Queen Christina. General officers and others of high rank
were getting ammunition prepared on the frontier of
France, for those who enlisted, and arms were being
purchased. A Frenchman had been imprisoned for ex-
citing to revolt. When the Lamproie sailed, Barcelona,
was quiet, but an outbreak was feared. The French Go-
vernment, informed no doubt of what was going on in Cata-
lonia, despatched thither on the 6th the Medea frigate, and the
Tonnerre steam-boat. These vessels are ordered to take on
board such natives of Spain as might wish to quit the country
in case of insurrection.

A journal says that th i e nquiry into the peculations that have
been discovered in the prefecture of the Seine continues. It is
reported that more a-rests have taken place. Some persons
have been suspended. M. Auguste Luchet, condemned to
two years imprisonrn,nt and a fine of 1,000 francs, for the
publication of a novel called "Un Dam de Famille," has ap.
pealed to the Court of Cessaiion.— Constitutionel.