The Sun. — 1831-11-25 (London, England)

THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.  SIK,-What with the cholera morbus, body-snatching, and the King's Proclamation for disannulling Political Unions, we are in a pretty ferment here. With respect to the first, great thanks are due to the public authorities and medical gentlemen in the town, for the very prompt and decisive measures they have taken for the prevention of the spread of this dreadful malady. For my own part, I never believed we had any other cholera morbus than all Englishmen have been subject to for the last twenty years, viz. the common belly-ache; the alarm, however, has done good ; it has caused many a filthy den and nasty pool to be thoroughly cleansed. In short, I should have no objection, were we every two or three years to be visited with such a panic, as the benefits arising therefrom are incalculable. This is another instance of the necessity of the Legislature attending more than they ever have done to the necessity of providing employment and education for the people. 2. The town was quite in au uproar last night, in consequence of a fellow being seized with a subject for anatomy, so early as half-past seven o'clock, in Tudor-street. The body-snatcher and the corpse were conveyed to the Town-hall; and from the imprecations I heard against the diabolical violators of the grave, very little would have been required to have visited the most summary punishment on the delinquent. This morning the body was recognized to be that of a respectable young man who died of a malignant fever on Wednesday last, and was interred on the following day in Attercliffe church-yard, about a mile and a half from Sheffield. The body was restored to the friends of the deceased this evening, but the execrations are loud and determined against the aggressor. Ile will be brought before the Magistrates on Friday, and whatever may be the result, I have only to say, that from the extent and increase of these unhallowed ravages, and barbarous murders which have taken place in the metropolis and elsewhere, Ministers will have to be as decisive in devising some remedy for this curse, as for despatch in passing the Reform Bill.  3. And lastly, the Royal proclamation for disannulling Political Unions. In the present aspect of affairs, this is even a worse calamity than the cholera morhus or bodysnatching. The members of the Political Unions have hitherto so far embraced the wealth, the intelligence, and the spirit of the manufacturing classes—men who have something at stake—men who would exert all their influence for the preservation of public peace—men who had pledged their honour, consistency, and character in support of a patriotic King, and what they believed an honest Ministry—to be treated thus is too much. Is it concession to the Tories that requires the annihilation of the most staunch friends of Reform—Political Unions ? Or do the Ministers imagine they can do without the people' if so they will find themselves lamentably mistaken ; because, if our grand Sheffield Political Union is annihilated by the fiat of this untimed and injudicious proclamation, I have only to say to our timid and conceding Ministers, that for one Union that now exists there will he fifty, for every company will become an Union, without that counteracting influence which the names of a Ward, a Knight, a Bailey, a Pallreyman, a Baker, a Bramley, and a host of others secure. We have some hope, however, in the fact, that Parliament assembles on the 6th of December, when it is trusted that some patriotic Member will bring this most unpatriotic act before the House of Contemns. In the mean time, whatever may be the consequences, the Political Unions of Great Britain are exonerated by the aforesaid proclamation from any blame. I am, with great respect,