The Sun. — London, England, 1827-01-03 00:00:00

WILLIAM GIFFORD, ESQ. (LATE EDITOR OF THE QUARTERLY REVIEW.) The late Mr. Gifford is a striking proof how much mat be done by perseverance, when properly directed. Bore of humblest parentage, in one of the obscurest nooks or Devonshire, he yet contrived to distinguish himself in the first literary circles as a poet, a translator, a politician, a journalist, a critic, and a commentator, in which last de partment of intellect, he stands confessedly unrivalled. His memoirs (prefixed by himself to Juvenal) though barren of incident, and even tame to the amateurs of rc mance, are fraught with interest to those who love to see the human mind gradually working its way in a sort of sub terranean channel through gloom and anguish, till it finally springs up invigorated and matured into the broad sunshine of prosperity. Such a spirit was Mr. Gifford's, he was one of the happy few, who at an early age formed a correct estimate of his powers, and thus self-assured, even when sickness and sorrow, those night-mares of the mind, most combined to depress him, looked boldly abroad into the future; convinced, that the hour must arrive when dark ness should roll off his hopes, and leave their horizon un clouded. From earliest childhood he distinguished him self by his love of letters, principally the Classics, and lucky accident having thrown him into the war of the late Lord Grosvenor, he obtained a situation at Oxford, from which place after duly taking his degree, he removed, a declared author, to London. His first, (we believe) and must successful work was a satire, aimed at a certain school of poetasters, entitled the " Della Cruscan" then, about thirty years ago, in high vogue. The effect was instantaneous, electrical. The masqued rhymesters could not stand the touch of this critical Ithuriel, bat shrunk back each into his proper nature ; when the public were surprized to learn, that those whom they had so long looked upon as lions, were in fact nothing more nor less than a genus of that respectable quadruped, the ass. About this time, while his name was " up" in town, Mr. Gifford commenced the conduct of the " Anti-Jacobin," to which he contributed the caustic prose, while Mr. Can ning supplied the poetry. But the period demanding more important aid, he was called on to start a quarterly publication in opposition to the Edinburgh Review. This task he executed, we need not say with what ability, suffice it to observe, that under his auspices the work in question became, not merely the organ of a party, but the source at which enlightened men of all classes slaked the thirst of their mind as at a fountain of healthful waters. The reader would naturally conclude that such labour would of itself be sufficient to monopolize Mr. Gifford. But no ; his mind, ever persevering, com pleted during this interval not only a translation of " Ju venal," but also editions of " Ben Jonson,"" Maseineser," " Ford," and " Shirley," which two last were on the ere of appearing, when their talented author died. It is not generally known, we believe, that in youth Mr. Gifford was a poet ; a few stray snatches, however, of his rhymes still remain, one of which, entitled " Anna," is full of a certain simple tenderness, of which the sarcastic Editor of the Quarterly Review would scarcely hare been suspect ed. Who could fancy Junius a sentimentalist ? In his literary character Mr. Gifford was all that perseverance, ourage, and shrewdness, could make him : his mind was an acquired one, and owed little to Nature beyond an ap titude for receiving ideas. Of that divine faculty, ima gination, which colours all things with its own glorious hues, and sees in others but the reflection of its own in spired character, he wax altogether deficient. His taste, in like manner, w as restricted; but when political antipathies did not cloud it, was invariably correct. In answer to those who cavil at his want of sympathy with modern li terature, it should never be forgotten that he was born at .a time when genius, trammelled by art, proceeded on what Mr. Bowles would eayi " the invariable principles" of the- Augustan age. He was linked in thought with the Swifts, Popes, Johnsons, Paleys, of former days, and could conse quently have little in common with the gifted, but unregu iated spirits of a more peculiar period. As a critic, it can not be denied that, however celebrated, he wanted both temper and liberality. His mind, blunted, perhaps, by early sorrows, and still more by constitutional infirmities, lacked that tine perception of the beautiful, for which his rival, Mr. Jeffrey is so conspicuous. His judgment, too, was purblind; it could glance over the broad beaten track of intellect, could look dawn, as from an eminenes, en the hackneyed road to fame, prepared to applaud all who pressed orthodoxly forward to the temple, but could not penetrate those hidden recesses on eithee aide, in which the modesty of genius, aloof from the crowd, so often loves to nestle. Hence his opposition to poor Keates, whose strange wayward fancy perplexed him, and was consequently rated as illegitimate. Hence his hostility toHazlitt,who,however mean lywe may estimate his politics, has given a new impulse to the thinkers of the age, by impregnating with truth and freshneee, and feeling, what was before eold,barren, and in definite in metaphysics. As a commentator, MI:, Gifford was the first of his own, perhaps of any age. He brought to his task, not merely exhaustless learning, keen research, severe scepticism (that useful adjunct of truth), and un daunted diligence, but also a love of his author, enthusias tic even to absurdity. In his edition of Ben Jonson, for instance—with whom, perhaps, he had some few points in common—it is really amusing to see how he impales on a short pointed note, or stretches on the rack of a tedious philippic, all those unliscky, commentators who have been hardy enough to underrate his hero. his translations Mr. Gifford was at best but tolerable. The coarseness of Juvenal certainly loses nothing in his he.nds, it is even gi ven with additional foree ; but the dignity of the Roman poet's invectives is degraded into vulgar vent:we—and the unequalled grandeur of his versification, majestic as a Cathedral organ, is transformed into a slip-shod diction, prosaic, diffuse, and inharmonious. As a politician, Mr. Gifford, though severe, was unerring in sagacity. His mind could look for a short distance into futurity, though St could not speculate on remote probabilities, and was pe eui:serly fitted for enforcing those small truths of which pass ing evente, except in some few striking instances, are made up. He has been accused of a leaning towards Aristocracy ; if this be a defect, it is a defect that he shares in common with the enlightened of all ages or all climes, for who (if he must bow), would not rather bow to those above than to those beneath him. Far better to look up to the mountain than down into the mud. But we deny the fact ; Mr. Gifford associated with mea raised above him by the mere accident of rank, on terms of the strictest equality ; he spurned all ideas of sycophancy, and enforced and preserved his independence by the commanding in fluence of talent. It is someiailat singular, that while, as an author, he was all venom and irritability, as a man, he was remarkable for the unassuming gentleness of his man ners. Though an invalid from youth, his temper in private society was uniformly tranquil. His acerbity exhausted itself in print, to his friends it was altogether unknown. He suffered agony at times (chiefly from an inveterate ;asthma), yet his tortures only displayed themselves by , that wasted smile, occasionally so characteristic of his kounteuance. He was, in fact, a striking instanc e how far ;he mind can trample down and rise superior to the intir enities of the body. Such was William Gifford, whose life inculcates this homely, but useful moral, that perseve rance backed by rectitgsle, is the sole key that unlosks the , door to success. Mr. KEAN,--On Tuesday evening this eminent actor made his last appearance to a New York audience before his departure for England. After the ballet which succeeded the pixy, he came out and made a sort of a speech to the American nation. There were a few passages in it very happily expressed. He intended to be particularly severe upon his enemies, and men 40ned the " town of Buckingham" with ineffable contempt. He rece i ve d a goo d deal of applause for some of his sentiments, but not a great deal for his contempt to his opposers. We have always been f r i e ndly to Kean, and think he would have done is St o ne, and the Bostonians alone. After well to let Bucking am., retreating to, the side door, he returned, and told the audience ;that he had a fi ne boy in England, whom he meant to bring out is two years v 4 ikc an American citizen."—New York Adsweate, Dec. '7. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. LISBON PAPERS. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THY. WAR DFPART• MENT, DEC. 22. " Extracts from the official communications received to-day by this Ministry : " Brigadier Azeredo writes from Mortagoa, under date of the 19th instant, a' follows I have the honour to request that your Excellency will acquaint her Serene Highness the Infanta Regent that I this day arrived at Villa de Mortagoa, with the battalion of militia of Soure, and 40 or 50 cacadores of No. 7, &c. The re bels are in Tondella. Ido not know their numbers; but, what ever it may he, I hope in a few days to dislodge them, and as soon as Colonel Antonio Pinto orders the detachment of infantry, No. V., now in Coimbra, to join me, I shall march for Tondella. " General Stubbs, in a communication dated the 19th, describes the movements of some troops, which the Marquis de Angeja had detached for Beira Alta, in order to co-operate with General A zeredo. " From Lower Beira, on the 19th, the General writes—' I have the honour to acquaint your Excellency, that in accordance with General Count de Villa for, I this day directed the forces under my command to advance to Belmonte, part by the way of Capinha, and part by Fondao and Covilhan. The latter portions are now preparing to cut off the communication from Fondao and Covilban, whence the rebels intended to convey the objects which they wished to carry off. " RODRIGO PINTO PI7,ARRO, Chief of the Ist Division." " Her Serene Highness the Infanta Regent, having destined for the service of the army, 30 horses from the Royal stud, the same has been communicated to his Excellency the Minister ad interim of War, by his Excellency the Master of the Horse, in order that directions may be given in the Royal stables for forwarding them to their destination. " The Government having, in the supplement to the Gazette of the 17th instant, pointed out the mode in which those persons who are anxious to serve the cause of patriotism, by giving or selling horses for remounting the cavalry, or mules for remount ing the brigades of artillery, may concur in that object—those in dividuals who intend to give horses and mules may address them selves to the Minister of War, and those who wish to sell them may apply to Lieutenant-General Jose Antonio de Rosa, President of the Committee for remounting." In consequence of indisposition, the Princess Regent was not able to attend the prorogation of the Cortes; and the closing speech of the session was delivered by the Bishop of Viseu. We extract from the Lisbon Gazette the official account of the proceedings which took place on this occasion : " LISBON, DEC. 4 24. "MINISTRY OF THE HOME DEPARTMENT. " The Most Serene Senhora Infanta Regent having, in the name of the , King, appointed the 23d of the present month for the Royal sitting of the closing of the General Cortes, she ordered the same, "by her decree of the 20th instant, to be communicated to the Chamber of I'eers and the Chamber of Deputies of the Forth- guese nation. Both chambers assembled in the hall of the Ajuda Palace on the said day, at 11 o'clock in the morning. The formalities and etiquette practised in the former Royal sitting were observed with respect to their introduction and reception. Her Royal Highness could not attend in consequence of indisposition, but the Ministers were present. The Bishop of Viseu, Peer of the kingdom, Mi nister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, delivered the fol- lowing speech:— " Worthy Peers of the kingdom, and Senhores Deputies of the Portuguese nation,—ller Serene Highness the Senhura In fanta Regent, on the opening of the session of the Cortes of the nresent year, congratulated von on seeing you assembled around the throne of her august brother and King, Den Pedro IV., ready to consolidate, by a faithful execution of the fundamen tal law given to us by a generous Monarch, the establishment of wise institutions, like those to which other nations are indebted for their p r osperity and glory, and which were al- ' ready, in a great part, well known to, and guarded by, our ancestors, though they have since fallen into disuse, and been for gotten in consequence of the operation of time and events. " < On the closing of the same session. she again congratulates you, because in your constant gratitude for the generosity of our august Monarch, in your respect for the constitutional charter, in your noble desire of repairing the ills of the country, and renewing the days of its fortune and illustrious fame, you have confirmed, in the most unequivocal manner, the hopes which the Portugue,4e, conceived of the prudence of the legislator, of the wisdom of the law, and of your known patriotism. " In this shot t period, you have, doubtless recognised wit , regret the defects of our agriculture, the slow progress made by our commerce, the very exhausted state of our finances, and the decay of military discipline and gallantry ; and you will, with vigilant efforts, endeavour to remedy those great evils by ade quate and prompt measures ; but as to know the evil, and to apply with speed the proper remedy, is all that is wanted to eh tain a good result, well-fOunded hopes may be encouraged, that, with more time, in other legislative sessions you will raise our Portugal to that due degree of prosperity and political considera tion which corresponds with her situation, with the number and solidity of her alliances, and with the vigour of mind anti com prehensive, as well as circumspect, genius of her citizens. " Such agreeable and well-founded hopes cannot be disap pointed by the defection of some cowards, and the delusion of souse part of the population by artful persons. Certain ill-dis posed men from the frontier of a neighbouring nation, where they were received, have'practised deception, and misled some incau tious people. Religion menaced, fundamental laws violated, are the vain phantoms with which the y have excited fear, and by which they have succeeded i n disturbin g that union which they, as Portuguese, ought to prefer above every thing. " The Government, however, has not neglected to appeal to the patriotism, led astray, indeed, but not extinguished, in their hearts ; nor has it forgotten to meet with precautions and impe diments the progress of the contagion. Faithful soldiers march with valour and constancy to defeat the plans anti counteract the progress of the cowardly and disloyal ; and strengthened by the as sistance of our ancient and faithful ally, Great Britain—assistance given with the most generous promptitude—we may confidently hope to overcome still greater obktacles. " "fhe contract of espousals is celebrated between her Faithful Majesty the Senhora Donna Maria IL, and the most Serene Sen hor Infant Don !gigue', taking away all pretext from seditious intriguers, and all ground of distrust from the deluded, must prove an efficacious remedy against discord, rather originating in error than in perverse intention, among a people who have been misled by designing men. Worthy Peers of the kingdom, and Deputies of the Portu guese nation,---You may rely that her Highness the Senhora In fanta Regent will, in the mean time, prepare to continue in the following session to display her ardent zeal for the good of the eountry, and to promote it efficacy and wisdom. In this manner, her highness trusts that the tree of the State, which has from so many peculiar and extraordinary causes fallen into decay, will recover vigour, and flourish amidst the sin cere praises of our contemporaries, and the benedictions of our posterity.' " Haviog concluded, the aforesaid Minister and Secretary of State said, addressing himself to the Members of both Chambers : " ' In conformity with the decree of her Highness, the session of the Chambers for the year 1826 is closed.' " The Members then withdrew, the same formalities and eti quette being observed as on their introduction. " To the above is added, the law giving the Government a summary power of imprisonment for two months, which we in serted vestardAy." SLAVE TRADE, BY FRANCE. Exposition by the Minister of Marine, of the principles upon which the new law, for the more effectual suppres &ion of the Slave Trade, is founded. " Noble Peers ! The King has commissioned us to present to you a project of law, the object of which is to enact new penal ties against those who violate the regulations prohibiting the Slave Trade. " According to the law of 15 th of Ap ril, 1818, which now governs this matter, the actual penalty consists only in the confis cation of the ship employed in the traf f ic, and the interdiction of the Captain. "At the time when this law was passed, but a short period had elapsed since France had engaged to concur in the suppression of the traffic. No contravention in this matter had yet called for the interference of the Tribunals. It was, therefore, per • mitted to believe, that the effect of the law would be rather to prevent than repress, and that the authentic manifestation of the intentions of the King, and of the Decrees of the two Cham bers, would suffice to hinder any French Ship-owner or Cap tain from engaging in operations condemned by the authority of the law. " This hope has been but imperfectly fulfilled. " French ships, equipped either in our own or in foreign ports, have taken an active part in the negro slave trade. " In vain have the Tribunals pronounced numerous sentences of condemnation ; in vain has the Department of the Marine taken the measures best calculated to prevent the equipment of ships for illegal undertakings. " The ship-owner had incurred a condemnation, sold his ship in a foreign country, and thus rendered the law illusory. If it happened that he could not save his ship from condemnation, his loss was covered by special insurances. On the other hand, the Captain, who had been declared incapable of any command, never theless directed new operations, while licensed to embark only as a supercargo, or as a common sailor. " Lastly, the proof of the crime could hardly be obtained, on account of the system of denial to which the crews of ships against. which proceedings were instituted, were wont to adhere by the, temptation of pecuniary recompence,. and who were thus accus tomed to perjure-themselves before the Tribunals. " It could not, therefore, fail to be evident, that the law of the loth April, ISIB, was insufficient to repress enterprises which are continually revived by the thirst of gain, which tor ments some men to such a degree, that they brave everything to gratify it. The proposed law, therefore, has a character of greater security. It punishes the principals in the operations (among whom it has been thought just to place the underwriter) —not only by a tine equal to the value of the ship . and cargo, but also with banishment. It declares the Captains and Officers incapable of serving in the French navy. It renders the other individuals of the crew liable to a long imprisonment ; but it af fords the latter a means to save themselves from this punish-_ ment, by making in due time, a correct declaration of the facts before the magistrates. " These penalties are in proportion to the greatness of the crime which it is proposed to punish. I have said the crime Noble Peers, and, in fact, it is by this name that we must desig nate a traffic which has really become infamous, from the acts of barbarity and cruelty of which it appears to have beet; the occa sion and the cause. "When the traffic was authorised, and carried on legally, un der the protection of the laws, it was subject to regulations, and to & superintendence, which, to a certain degree, prevented the abuses of it. The number of negroes who might be embarked in a slave ship, their treatmentr,their food, were all subject to the inspection of the authorities, anci'khe Captain who should have neglected the precautions which humanity required, would have been severely punished. At present there are no more regula tions or superintendence ; cupidity is the sole rule .of the ship owner. In a traffic condemned by the laws, and which exposes him to their whole severity, if he should be taken, he calculates his profits according to the risks which he incurs; it matters little to him whether of these men, crowded in a narrow and dark hold, a certain number dies, provided that be finds in the remainder a sufficient indemnity for an expedition which exposes him to some danger. " This circumstaace alone would explain how the traffic con demned by the law, is carried on in a more barbarous manner than in former times, when the law had subjected it to rules, and would make humanity lament the melancholy success which it has obtained. It would also explain the acts of barbarity which several philanthrophic Journals have pointed out to public animad version; facts, which lam willing to believe exaggerated, but which, if proved to be true, would be but imperfectly punished by the provisions which we have the honour to lay before you. "But you will perceive with us. that there is no need of spe cial enactments to reach them. Considered as grievous bodily in juries, or even as homicide and assassination, they are, of course, included in the provisions of the general legislation. " Accordingly,a special article of the project of law applied di rectly, in cases of aggravation of this kind, the penalties pronoun. ced by the penal code. " The King's government is authorised to reckon on the effica ciominess of the law which it has the honour to propose to you. However, it will sot cease to subject to investigations the vessels which shall still manifest a character evidently criminal, in order, if possible, to prevent enterprises which should be hence forth equally opposed by the power of opinion and the severity of the law. Several decrees of,the first Court of the kingdom have defined the crimes, and the commencement of execution, in the slave trade, iu a manner so characteristic and precise, as te per mit the Magistrates, &c. to impose it on them as a duty to refuse their coacurrsace to the completion of an expedition justly incom militated, because this coneurreace sleight, by legal inductions, be considered as a sort of complicity. " Noble Peers !—The project of law which we are going to read to you, is couceived in that spirit of frankness sad sincerity which ought to characterise all laws. If it obtains the legisla lathe sanction, it will be executed is the same spirit as it has been drawn up. It becomes the honour sad dignity of France, that the operations shall be carried •s under the protection of its flag or such as are avowed by the laws, and that the purity of which it is the emblem he not impaired by culpable speculations and criminal cupidity." . VINTRY WARD. Yesterday a Court of Wardmote was held by the Lord Mayor, for the purpose of electing an Alderman in the room of Mr. Al- derrnan Magnay. The strongest party feeling has been excited by the circumstances of the late election, which was declared null and void by the Court of Aldermen ; awl all the inhabitants of the ward have been most zealously and actively employed since that declaration was made. The Cutlers Hall was crowded to ex cess. Mr. Rolland and Mr. Law were in attendance on the be half of Mr. Sheriff Winchester, and Mr. F. Pollock and Mr. Bro drink for Mr. Wilde. Sheriff Winchester's protest against the conclusion to which the Court of Alderman had come was then handed in. Deputy WHITBY proposed Sheriff Winchester, who, he said, was so well known in the city of London, as to need no eulogium from him. 'Mr. G. WILSON said also, that the gentleman was well known —(Cries of " No, we don't know him.")—He (Mr. Wilson) had been an inhabitant of the ward 40 years, and yet he had never heard nor seen the face of Mr. Wilde until the first day of the last election. Mr. Wilde certainly was a man who had a great deal to say, and who talked much about nuisances, and what he would do for their removal, As for Sheriff Winchester, that gentlemau had been east into a fiery furnace, and yet be had come forth seven times purified, and not a hair singed.—(Laughter.)—lf the She riff's friends proved true to him, there could be no doubt of his return, although his opponents, it might be truly said, had gone about like Gipsies, stealing his votes.--(Loud laughter and con fusion.) Mr. El.3tEs proposed Mr. Wilde, whose friends, if we may judge from the shouting that accompanied the proposition, were exceedingly numerous. Mr. MARSDEN seconded the nomination. He considered the Ward of Wintry, as a citadel, and would use every exertion in his power to close the gates of Temple bar against any invader from the west. (Laughter.) The Sheriff had pledged himself as a man of honour to retire, if any respectable inhabitant of the ward should present himself. —(Clapping of hands and cheers from one party, and cries of "No, no," from the other.) Sheriff WINCHESTER was misunderstood, if it was supposed that b e had made the unconditional pledge alluded to.—(Great noise and confusion.) —The imputation was not founded in fact. He had been dragged into the present contest by technical objec tions.—(Cries of " You had better retire," and applause front the Winchesterites.)—ln deference to the opinions of his supporters, he had again come forward, and he hoped that he should again be returned. He had excepted unconditionally to the decision of the Court of Aldermen as bad both in law and equity. Mr. WILDE, in his address, replied to some accusations against him. He defied any one to show that he had used his professional knowledge on the occasion, from any private motive. He then charged Sheriff Winchester with the breach of a pledge given by him, and asked that gentleman what he had to say. (The Sheriff declined giving an answer, and there was a great uproar.) It was painful to make such a statement, but he could not help saying to the face of the Sheriff that his pledge had been grossly forfeited.— After having read an extract from the short-hand writer's notes relating to the pledge given, he asked what were the Sheriff's pre tensions beyond those of his being Sheriff and having heretofore ap peared in his full costume of office. They had, however, met that day on equal terms, clad in their white, and black and blue, and the independence of the ward would, be trusted, be strongly manifested.—(Cheers.) A show of hands then took place, and a large majority appeared for Mr. Wilde, amidst the greatest applause. A poll was then de manded, and at the close of the day's proceedings the numbers were as follow : Mr. Wilde Mr. Winchester Majority for Mr. Wilde The announcement was received with loud cheers 39 19 -20 Never in the memory of man were crimes so abun dant in the north of England as they now are in the neighbour hood of Carlisle. The current talk of the day is robbery, rob bery ! and the first question asked by meeting friends, after the usual salutation, is—" Well, were you robbed last night ?" The state of affairs is really most deplorable. Villagers scarcely ever rise but to witness some depredation or other having been com mitted on their properties ; and finding such, are obliged to be re signed to the dreadful aspect of the times, observing that they must share the common fate of others. It is nothing to find hedges de stroyed and young trees cut up for fire-wood, cellars broken open for coals, and fruit, potatoes, fowls, ducks, geese, stolen ; sheep stealing, a capital offence, is now also making its ravages.-- Car lisle Journal. DAY AT ONE 0 CLOCK. PRICES OF STOCKS THI Bank Stock 200% 1 3 per Cent. Red 3 per Cent. Cons. 3 per Cent. Ditto Red. 1 per Cent. New Ditto, 19.26 95 N N N Bank Long Ann l9 3-16 19 India Stock Ditto Bonds 42 45 pm. 663 '?i PRICES OF FOREIGN F Austrian Bouds,s per cent. — Brazilian Bonds Buenos Ayres Bonds. Chilian Bonds, 6 per ct. 37 ti Colombian Bonds Ditto, 1824 Danish, S per cent. S9M Greek Bonds Ditto, 1826 Guatunala Mexican Bonds — Do. 1525 South Sea Stock Old Auauities New Ditto Ex. Bills, £l,OOO 2d. 22 25 pm. Ditto 5OO 20 22!pni. Ditto Small Ditto Commercial • Bank for Account 2O ll India for Account Cons. for Acct.. SONFOS ENDS AT ONE O ' CLOCK. Neapolitan, 1524 Peruvian Bonds Portuguese Bonds — P.ruisian, 5 per cent. Ditto, New — Russian, New, 5 p'. e. 85%% Spanish, 1921 l3 -- y t 923 9 French entes, sp. c....... —f —c. Exchange —t. —e -- 3 per cent —t. —c ---- Exchange .—f. —c. PRICES OF SNARES AT ONE O'CLOCK. Paid. Per Share. Anglo 'Mexican Mining Company £9o f. 5 57)4 Brazilian Mining Company £2o 29 VS% 29 British Iron Mining Company 35 9 Potosi La Paz and Peruvian Assoc. United Mexican Mining Company 2 7 14 2034 19 Canada Company lO Arrived MAILS. Due. Arrived. Due. America 0 0 Guernsey& Jersey. 0 Brazil 0 0 Hamburgh 2 Buenos Ayres Donaghadee 0 0 Jamaica 0 Dublin Flanders ' France Gottenburgh 1 1 Waterford 0 HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW. Morning 29 minutes alter ti. j Evening ....... M minutes after 6. t ir Our COUNTRY READERS are informed, that if they do not get the COUNTP.Y EDITION, which has the CLostlio Pmemg OF THE FUNDS • T FOUR o'CLocE, they should apply to their Newsmen on the subject. - -.- -,i, , aW, , A. t :,%"`' ~)!, 1 4 : ,‘ . . `.. ' T -, 4 h. - '-`)) itit 4 Ye ' - -'''' ',.:4; ; :V,..1. - --;.- • IV LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 3, 1527. We regret deeply, that we cannot mention any cir cumstance respecting the state of his Royal Highness the Duke of YORK, which can in any degree revive hope. Up to a late hour this afternoon, he still conti nued nearly in the state in which he had been for the last three days. 'We understand that the Duke of SUSSEX remained with his ROYAL HIGHNESS till eleven o'clock last night, and at an early hour this morning Sir H. lIALFoRD sent an express to the KING, to inform his MAJESTY, that his beloved Brother had passed a quiet night and still survived. Upon our enquiring at Rutland House this day at half-past two, we were informed that his Royal Highness was no better than he was yesterday. He has been perfectly sensible all along. The Etoik of Monday morning, which reached us yes terday, contains au exposition by the Miaister of Marine of the principles upon which the new law proposed to the French Legislature for the Suppression of the Slave Trade, is founded. The existing law on this subject is declared to have been insufficient to deter persons from engaging in the traffic, and the penalties for so doing are therefore to be rendered more severe. The principals (amongst whom are to be included the underwriters) are to be subject not only to a fine equal to the value of the ship and cargo, but also to banishment; the captains and officers to be rendered incapable of serving in the French navy, and the other individuals of the crew liable to a long imprisonment, from which, however, they may save themselves, by giving information before a civil magistrate. These proposed regulations prove that the French Go vernment are at length likely to act with sincerity in their engagements to co-operate in the suppression of the Slave Trade, which has been carried on in so notorious a manner under the sanction of their flag; but we much question whe ther the nature of these regulations is such as to accom plish the object in view. The dread of fine, imprisonment, and banishment, will never counteract the effects of that thirst for gain which must be predominant in the minds of those who can embark in so detestable a trade ; and expe rience every day confirms the opinion which we have be fore expressed, that no means will be effectual for its abolition till the nations of the world agree to make the engaging in the traffic an act of piracy, and liable to the penalties of that offence. The speech of the Minister of Marine will be found ill another column. The Etoile has but little political news, but such as had reached us through other channels. It classes under Lies of the Day an article in the Constitutionnel, dated Vittoria, Dec. 21, which had stated, on authority of letters from Madrid, " that the KING had written to his cousin the King of FRANCE, that the plans of his Charge d'Affaira and those of the Ministers of England, for the change of the absolute Government, will not be adopted by him in any case, or under any circumstances; and that he will never renounce any of his rights of sovereignty which he is resolved to preserve entire, conformably to the fundamental laws of his Kingdom. That even if he were inclined to change, the majority of his subjects would oppose a Representative Government, and are resolved to shed the last drop of their blood to maintain the ancient usages; and that those who demand a Constitution form but a small part of the nation." LIES OF THE DAY. The Pilote, after the Globe.—We are assured that an em barkation of troops will shortly take place in our ports, and that they will probably go to Alicant. The Quotidienne and the Aristarque.—An English squadron lately appeared before Oporto, and the Commander of this squadron seemed to intend to take .possession of the ports ; it is said, that the Governor fired red-hot balls at the English, and sunk two of their vessels. The Constitutionnel. —The King of Spain has written to his cousin the King of France, that he would never accept the plans proposed by the Charge d'Affaires of France and the Minister of England, to change the form of Government in his kingdom, and give a Constitution to Spain. The Jean d' Arc frigate and the Zebra sailed from Brest on the 23t1.1 of December. The former is the flag-ship of Rear Admiral Bergeret, who is going to command in the Antilles. Toutox, Dac. 19.—The Bayadere corvete, and the Estafette schooner have sailed for the Levant, and the Daphne schooner has just arrived from Alexandria. La Bayonnaise corvette will sail on the 20th for the South Seas. Lord Cochrane is here. We find the following paragraph in the Drapeau Blanc : " It is by mistake that we inserted in our No. of the'29th of this month, that an agent of the Spanish Refugees at London had set out for the Peninsula with instructions from the English Go vernment." Those who know the manner in which the British Government acts towards the refugees of all countries, are aware that it leaves them at full liberty to act, but that it does not give them either instructions or means, especially when these foreigners entertain hostile projects towards a country with respect to which Englaad observes a strict neutrality. It must be remembered, that when the enrollment of the refugees was mentioned to Parliament, the Ministry, and the majority rejected the proposal. We see too, that neither Sir Robert Wilson, nor Lord Cochrane, nor the famous English radicals, make part of the expedition to Portugal. Letters have been received from Oporto, dated the 22d ult. brought by the Providence from thence to Liverpool. The preservation of Oporto from the rebels ie3 attributed to 'the energy of General STUBBS ; and, as a British squadron is now there, we may consider it safe from any meditated attack. The intelligence of the repulse of the rebels at the bridge of Amarante seems fully confirmed by these letters. OPORTO, DEC. 22.—A British squadron is off the bar, consist ing of the Galatea frigate, Sir Ch ar l es S u lli van : D espatc h s l oop of war ; and the Plumper and Reynard gun-brigs. The two brigs will be in to-morrow's tide. The Plumper brought intel ligence tha‘ British troops -were sent to Portugal ; and we have no doubt some of them are now in the Tagus. Intelligence has been received to-day that the rebels have pillaged Lamego, and set out to do the same to Viseu. The bridge of Amarante has been successfully defended, and the rebels have disappeared trom that neighbourhood. The preservation of Oporto is in a great measure owing to the energy of General Stubbs, the Governor. Up to the 19th all communication with Tras-os-Montes was completely cut off. In Oporto, it is not known where the main body of the rebels are. Thirty prisoners passed down to the Castello del For last night from Amarante, and among them three officers. The troops of General Claudino will pass through this place to-morrow for the Beira, to keep open the communication with Lisbon. (EXTRACT num ANOTHER LETTER.) OPORTO, DEC. 22.--Yesterday, a frigate, sloop of war, and two gun-brigs, arrived off the bar for the protection of this place : they bring accounts of the embarkation of British troops for Lie. bon, so that the rebellion will soon be put down here. In conse quence of this, the Oporto will to-morrow commence discharging the goods put on board of her two days ago for security. We hare inserted in another column some further ex tracts from Lisbon Papers which reached us yesterday. Amongst these will be found the speech delivdred by the Bishop of Visxu on the prorogation of the Cones, the PRINCESS REGENT being prevented by indisposition from closing the Session in person. It refers more , to the ge neral state of affairs of the country than to the particular crisis which existed, and alludes to the aid of Great Bri tain, as " assistance given with the most generous prornp " titude, strengthened by which Portugal may confidently " hope to overcome still greater difficulties." Dutch Papers of the 30th ult., and Hamburgh Papers of the 27th, have ,been received this morning. The Am sterdam Courant states, that by a letter from Constanti- nople, of the 25th November, a convention had actually been concluded between the Turks and Greeks. For the sake of humanity, we could wish the report to be correct; but for the liberties of Greece, it were far better that peace had been purchased with the sword, and ratified by the recognition of her independence by the Porte, and the Christian Nations of Europe. The Norwegian Parliament meets on the first of February. AMSTERDAM, DEC. 28. Just as our Paper is going to press, we received the following : (From a letter, dated Constantinople, Nov. 25.) " A convention has been concluded between the Turks and the Greeks; the terms are at present unknown to us, but, be they what they may, trade and navigation must be great gainers." AELSTEZDAM, DEC. 29.—Exchanges on London—One month, 39. I I . ; two months, 39. 8. aituram.s, nac. 26. _t is said in one of our Journals, that General Van Geen will shortly return from the Fast Indies. lIAASLEM, DEC. 29. The troops destined for India hare been embarked to-day in small vessels to proceed to the Shelder, where they will go on board the men of war. WARSAW, OCT. 14. Prince Philip, of Hesse Homburg, the Austrian Ambassador Extraordinary to the Prussian Court, passed through here on the 10th, on his return to Vienna. STOCKHOLM, DEC. lb. The Norwegian Storthing meets on the Ist February. It is thought that as the Military Committee, convoked by his Ma jesty, will be assembled here in the month of January, the King will not go to Christiania till April, to which time the several Committees of the Storthing will he engaged in discussing the proposition of the Government. The exchange of Couriers between this city and Christiania has of late been very frequent. I EXCHANGES ON LONDON. Hamanacti, DSc. 26.--No list published, it being a holiday; on London at 36. Ltlrsic, 22.—Three Month, 6 16. STOCKHOLM, DEC. 19.-75 d. 13 rIZ d. PETERSEURGH, DEC. 12.-9 13-16. (Neither the Dutch or Hamburgh Papers have any news whatever from St. Petersburgh.) Considerable anxiety is now felt for the arrival of intel ligence from Madrid. It is from that city that we must look for the first indications of the real intentions of the Court of France, with respect to the affairs of Portugal, as well as for information of the course likely to be adopted by FERDINAND, in consequence of the measures resorted to by Great Britain. The absence of any authentic intel ligence from Madrid of a recent date, throws sufficient doubt on this question, to add much to the interest of the next advices. Communications from Madrid, are generally received in seven or eight days, and yet we are without any advises from thence beyond those of the 22d, which reached London yesterday through the French Mail. Those letters contained nothing important. Reports indeed are mentioned in them of the existence of a secret Treaty between FER DINAND and the King of FRANCE, for the maintenance of an absolute system in Spain and Portugal, but we forbear to do more than allude to such reports, being unwilling to believe that they can have any foundation in reality. Of the wishes of FERDiNAND there can be no doubt; and blind as he has proved himself by every act of his life to the real interests of his people, we shall be surprised if, on this occasion, he does not add to the follies of his past conduct, by persevering in rather than renouncing a system which sootier or later must plunge the Peninsula again into a state of anarchy, and finally wrench from his own hand the sceptre of Spain. In fulfilment of the promise held out in our paper of last night, we proceed to offer a few observations on the Mes sage of the PRESIDENT of the United States to both Houses of Congress. The part of this important document that most immediately claims our notice, is that wherein the PRESIDENT directs the attention of the American Legisla ture to the commercial relations existing between the United States and this country, and its colonies in America and the West Indies. It will be remembered that the Message complains, in rather measured terms, of the refusal of the English Ministry to admit free commercial intercourse with her Colonies, and that, when an Amerian Mi nister was despatched to England to treat upon this important point, the business was at once cut short by the positive determination of the English Government not to make it a subject of negotiation. Of their power, and of their right, by the law of nations, to decline all such nego ciation, not the slightest doubt can be entertained ; and the American Government and people cannot therefore with justice consider themselves unhandsomely treated by this determination of the Briti s h G ov ernment. The wisdom of the resolution is also equally clear, because all advantages gained by the United States in the admission of free intercourse with our Colonies, would be so much lost by England, who peopled, maintained, and even now support the Colonies, the trade of which, is the ob ject of contention between us and America. The advan tages resulting to America are too prominent to need par ticularizing, and indeed nothing more were wanted to con firm their existence than the arrival of an American Ple nipotentiary, and the declaration contained in the Mes sage, that to gain them, " the government of the United States, had determined to sacrifice something of the en ti r e reciprocity which in all commercial arrangements with