The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-25


10 We refer the public TO the advertisement in anohe
column OF the choice collection of humorous
and instructive English periodicals papers Tor sale
the desk Of the Herald Office which arrived by the Bi
tanna yesterday.
Progress OF the Revolution In Europe.
IL Is impossible 10 contemplate the present aspect
OF affairs III Great Britain and ireland, without the
keenest interest. great crisis IN the progress OF
these islands, which have tor so long period oc-
cupled such large place in the history OF Europe,
has evidently arrived. Every steamship which has
crossed the Atlantic Tor considerable time past,
has brought us most expressive intelligence OF
great popular movements, OF varied character ana
distinctive developments, but all exhibiting one
uniform tendency, the overthrow or remodelling of
existing institutions The heavlngs OF discomfort
In England, manifested in the form Of chartsm
and radicalism-,he equally significant indications
offesling in Scotland, exhibited in the controver
sizes respecting the ecclesiastical establishment-lhe
still more marked and striking ebullitions of popu-
lar sentiment presented in the Repeal agitation.-
are all indicative Of the deep-rooted, peua.
ding existence of dissatisfaction with the present
order tthingsan irrepressbe sense Of the pressure
Of great and runous evis-and resoute determi-
nation TO effect change Of some description. In
Ireland, where the popular elements have been for
the longest period in state of efiervescence, and
where the feeling Of the people is more easily ex-
cited, the revolutionary symptoms are much more
generally and wildly apparent, than in the other
portions of the United Kingdom Indeed, the pre-
sent condition of that portion OF the British empire
very much resembles that of France before the
Revolution. Every where there is heard restless,
shrieking, complaining, neverceasing spirit of dis
content, suffering, and clamorous desire of change.
The intelligence which we gave yesterday,
showing the alarming rumors, and certainly not
altogether unfounded apprehensions Of terrible dis
asters, which at present disturb the popular mind in
Ireland, discovers state Of things which Is
calculated to prepare for the news Of
some great, overwhelming outbreak, which
will terminate eventually in general revo-
luton throughout the United Kingdom. II only
requires the application of the torch to set the
whole empire in blaze. And that that incenda-
ry process will very soon be attempted, seems not
at all unlikely. The excitement respecting the
State trials, which were to be commenced last
week, is represented as altogether unparalleled
The city of Dublin is crowded by an immense null
ttude of the peasantry, the priesthood, and small
farmers from all parts of the kingdom. ALI the
prominent leaders in the agtatons are collected
together in that metropolis, and there is no know
ing what sudden and violent turn the popular feel
ing may take, bv the merest accidental develop
ment offresh exciting matter in the progress Of the
trials
large portion Of the military are Irshmen, and
repealers. The same is true with respect to the
armed police force-a regularly organized military
body, nearly ten thousand strong which is station
ed all over the country, constantly in close COM
IL -
much restrained and guarded by strict discipline as
thu regular army, from participation in any popular
outbreak in which their sympathes and feelings
would be strongly enlisted. The circumstance
which we have just stated, presents the hazar-
dous position of the government, and the very cr-
teal state of the country, in strkingly forcible
point of view. and very much increas. the resem-
blance of the present aspect Of affairs in Ireland 10
that which characterized France on the eve of the
Revolution.
England, Scotland and Wales, present through
out all their borders, abundance Of revolutionary
elements, which would at once combine with those
in Ireland, on the very first decided outbreak. In
London, little popular discomfort is visible. For
there the overshadowing influence Of the Court
subdues every thing like an expression of dssatis-
faction with things as they are. In this respect the
villages in the immediate vicinity of some barenia
residence, where the people still subject 10 feu-
dal despotsm-greaty modified it is true, but still
sufficiently influential to suppress any audible or
open expression of popular opinion adverse to the
aristocracy. But in Manchester, Birmingham, Lii
verpool, indeed, all the large, opuent, and popu-
lous- cities and towns in the manufacturing and
commercial districts, the voice of the people has
II - l.
guage not to be mistaken. And that language is
every where-"We must have change-no pri-
vileged orders-let US have cheap, salutary, Just,
equal government -
1t is quite absurd to suppose that by ordinary le-
gislatlon, the government can succeed in calming
this universal spirit of discomfort. The evils which
al present press upon the people of the British en-
pire the necessary result of that anquated op-
pressve, unequal system of government, at which
its interested supporters have been vainly tnkerng
for the last quarter Of century, the hope of rem
derng it less odous to the people Under this sys-
TEN the rich have been becoming richer, and the
poor more and more abject. The privileged orders
have been becoming more and more burdensome
and the people less able to sustain the incubus.
The whole landed property Of Great Britain and
Ireland il owned by probably not more than thirty
or forty thousand individuals. To add to their re-
venues, maintain their prepondsrating influence,
and secure their interests, iniquious and oppres-
sve laws, which have increased and kept up the
price OF bread, have been enacted and enforced,
and the manufacturers and artizans of the continent
OF Europe, who can procure food at lower rate,
have been thus enabled to underse those of the
British Islands. This has been one prolific source
of the present popular dissatisfaction Besides all
this, the minds OF the great mass of the British pc
pie have been awakened to new and clear notions
OF civil liberty The War of Independence in this
country, and the French Revolution were events
which impressed on the minds of civilized man.
lessons which can never be forgotten. Theywrote
in great and glazing characters, for all men to read