Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-02-12
From OUR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE

4
| LONDON, JANUARY 5, Is4s.
| What has the year lS47 done for the world is
question which may be properly asked at the COM
mencement of l84S. Has it left the moral, reli-
gious, political. and social condition of mankind
better than il found them! Have sovereigns become
more liberal and subjects more enlightened! Have
poverty and crime and want and misery decreased !
Has education been more extended, and legislation
become more humanized and regenerang In fact,
is the great principle of the age, PRoGREss stamped
upon the events of the past year, the seal of its
character and the testimonial of lis value in the his
tory Of the world? To this long string of questions
we think that one answer may be given, and we
are grateful that it is affirmative one. And, first,
what has occurred in England during the past year
An abundant harvest has blessed the land and COM
Iparative plenty has succeeded to such season of
restitution and want as had been long previously
unknown to us. Poverty and crime and suffering
have Of course proporonaly diminished but there
is yet not only in Ireland, but in comparatively hap
ply England, more than abundant employment for
charitable exertion. Nay, there is yet more of pau
perism and degradation than any thing short Of broad
and general national action can remove. But let
us be thankful that the Christmas of lS47 must have
been warmly welcomed at thousands of hearths
where that Of 1916 met with cold reception.
The year which has just closed witnessed great
PoiitlCu sPilt. BItdl, lHuccu,
that some Of leading public journals deprecate
the present unanmty in the legislature of the coun-
try as being likely to lead to careessness ndolence
and train Of evils. They say that admnstra
ton will long be careful Of the peoples interests desire
posses their good opinion, unless kept upon the alert by
wachful powerful, and organized opposition. We cannot
stop to discuss the question we have stated the fact The
financial policy Of Sir RoBEnT PEEL has been tried, and
have the principles and the workings of comparative free trade
The friends of both say they have worked well their oppo
nents equally asseveraive of the contrary Probably
neither have yet had sufficient trial
Lord JoHN RUSSELL has during the past year brought for
ward educational measure which, while it fell short Of
tonal necessity and public expectation, unquesonaby
great step gained II important foundation which
to raise, future day, goody superstucture The poor
law commission and the administration of the pooraws have
been much modified and improved The principles of this
law, originally framed, good but its workings
terribly deficient More comfort and less cost will
be enjoyed by the unfortunate objects Of its operation under
its present modification The hours of factory labor have been
shortened by the passage of the enhours bill The result
doubted but the object humane and benevolent The
evils Of the transport and convict system have been recognised
by the Government and with the exception for particular Of
fences they will speedily be erased from the list Of punish
ments
Ireland assisted and relieved with promptude and to
extent favorable to the national character and homo allie to
humanity The retrospect Of the year. in connection with
Ireland is wildly before eyes need dwelling upon
We hasten therefore to subject painful Indeed in its cons
deraton and fearful in its results but which is at least free
from the accumulation of ignorance, suffering, and crime
which have Of late formed the staple Of Irish intelligence II
subject home-the late commercial crisis Exten
sye and awful the effects of that crisis have proved they
be said have been altogether unexpected by those
who asounded the fever and excitement into which the
spirit of commercial gambling huying the community,
renbel at the unavoidable consequences Of such
The immediate effect has passed. and may be that good will
be the result II has ruined many but has cautioned thou
sands and may prove blessing in the end rough and unR
aabe its visitation has been upon those that afflicted.
The Ministerial interference with the Bank of England
probably serviceabe in arresng the monetary aarm it
anly will do good by calling the attention Of Parliament TO
the existing charter Of the bank and Sir Robert Pees bill
will either be declared worthy of all confidence or, after
full examination, be reconstructed better its
Intentions new Parliament has been elected during the
lately closed year. and probably the friends Of liberal opinions
and Of progressive legislation throughout England, Europe
and the world have rejoice in the result of the
elections than any thing ese which the chronicle Of the
year will bear upon its record The classification Of the
bers of the old and the Parliament exhibits the following
numbers