The Sun. — London, England, 1830-05-08 00:00:00

"PIRIT OF Till PUBLIC JOURNALS, In making some strictures in our two last nun:- bens on the Parliamentary- document entitled " Di plomatic Expenses," we expressed our desire to see a specification of details, under particular heads, which, upon examination, we find the return itself was not intended to include, and the absence of which, therefore, afforded- no ground. for animadver sion or suspicion. The return in question was moved for by Mr. Hume, and contains all the in formation required by that Hon. Member, who shaped his motion so as to obtain the aggregate sums under each head, and not the particulars of any. The form adopted in making out the tables is the same as that which is found among the Parlia mentary papers of 1U22. The particular details of " the extraordinary and incidental expences," which are lumped together in one sum, the items of the expences " of commissions under treaties with foreign Powers," of the expellees of special com missions, and consular establishments, together with the amount of retired pensions and superannuation allowances, are annually laid before Parliament un der the head of " civil contingencies," or in some other separate form. On Monday last we observe that these returns, in more minute and specific detail, as well as others connected with our diple- Matic missions and consular establishments, were laid on the table of the House of Commons iw answer to a motion of Sir James Graham. It is but just and candid to mention these facts, in order to remove the unfavourable impres sion which might be otherwise created against the office which supplies these returns, by any complaint that information was either wilfully with held, or scantily afforded. With this necessary ex planation our remarks might end ; but as our atten tion has been again directed to the subject, a few observations on the document before us may not be deemed misplaced. We are not among the number of those who undervalue the duties of our diplo matic agents, if performed with zeal and capacity, or who would deal out with a niggard and parsimo nious hand the means of rewarding their exertions or supporting their dignity, as the representatives among foreigners of this great and opulent nation. If the definition of - an Ambassador by Sir H. Wotton, as " a man sent abroad to lie for the good of his country," were correct, then we might ex claim, what a deal of lying might be bought for less than a quarter of a million," and propose the most unsparing retrenchment. If our diplomatic agents were required merely to live like private gentlemen in foreign capitals—to make their houses only a kind of caravansary on fitting occasions for a stray English traveller, arid never to see their noble or distinguished countrymen who might visit the court at which they reside except when expediting their passports, then a tithe of their present salaries and allowances would pay for all their official outlay and extraordinary expenditure; but it is needless to say that such a representation of their duties, and such a limitation of their expenses, would be ridiculously incorrect. In the execution of their ne cessary functions, they are liable to charges which no private gentleman need incur, and which must be defrayed either out of their own purse or that of the State. The hotels of their mission must be come a common centre of international intercourse, and should exhibit to the people among whom they reside some reflection of their country's splendour. It is their duty to bring distinguished Englishmen and distinguished foreigners into contact—to display the virtue of a becoming hospitality—to maintain the character of their country for the manners and accomplishments of those whom they invite foreigners to meet at their entertainments, arid create a favour able impression of their nation, even among the lower orders of those around them, by their liberality and generosity. All this may be independent of their more essential duties as honourable spies, informers, or negotiators. It is unconnected with diplomatic in trigues, over-reaching, or officious intermeddling; but it is, nevertheless, often useful in advancing po litical objects, or smoothing down political difficulties. Now, though there may be different notions about the sum necessary for manitaining a suitable diplomatic establishment, it is plain that our Ambassadors at the chief Courts of Europe must receive larger in comes to meet these extraordinary charges than any other class of officers employed by the State. The only question that can properly be raised relates to the amount. In the paper before us we find five mis vions—those to France, Austria, Russia, the Ne therlands, and the Ottoman Porte—in the- receipt of between 12,1001. to 13,1001. each. It is but fair, however, to mention that this allowance mais tains the secretaries; and defrays all the expenses of the embassy, as well as the salary of the Ambassa dor. The sum, after all, seems large, and the ar rangement, which is not one of the present Admi nistration, ought to be reconsidered. With respect to the Netherlands, it does appear to us most unne cessary to maintain an Ambassador at the plain, un ostentatious Court of Brussels, or the Hague, with an allowance which would support the whole of the Dutch Cabinet. Spain is now very properly struck off the list of great Courts, so far as Court great ness is measured by the scale of English diplomatic allowances; and the modest sum of 8001. for Lisbon in the last year (though we know not to what ; envoy it was paid) appears to us about a just com pensation for all the diplomatic service that has been done at the Court of Don Miguel. In run ning over the list of missions with a view to econo mical retrenchment, the eye is arrested at the names of Bavaria, Wurternberg, Saxony, the German Diet, and the Swiss Cantons, to our envoys at which we pay respectively 5,4001., 4,4001., 3,3001., 4,400/., and 3,300/. It would appear unnecessary to send Ambassadors both to the meeting of the German Confederation and to the separate small states of which it is composed. And, in the name of every , thing extravagant, why have we an Envoy at Flo rence, with a salary of 4,400/.2 Is it to represent, I not English interests, but English musical taste, and to add one performer more to an amateur con cert ? If this be the object let the lovers of the Tuscan music or the Tuscan stage pay their own 4 performers, and let us not be called on " to pay the ' piper." Our Consul at Leghorn is capable of dos ing all our diplomatic business in Tuscany. The arrangement made for the maintenance of Consular establishments by salaries from the English Govern ment instead of fees from the merchants, deserves revision. This head of expellee probably cannot otherwise be much reduced, thBtigh it amounted last year to the heavy sum of 102,4001., or nearly a third of tile whole of our foreign diplomatic expen diture. We come now to the more pleasing task of pointing out the savings which have been effected in the expences of foreign missions within the last four years. In 1826 we paid for these services the enormous sum of 459,5381., and last year we find the . charge reduced to 366,0041., leaving a ba lance in favour of the nation of nearly 100,0001., or more than 20 per cent. on the whole. When it is considered that the pensions, amount ing to nearly 60,0001., could not be touched, —that our Consular charges could not be easily diminished without a total change of system, and that some new missions (such as that to Greece) have been added to the previous list, this cannot fail to appear a great saving over the remainder, to which the pruning-knife could be safely applied. The branches of expenditure on which thin eeeno mica! experiment has been tried appear to us as ju diciously- selected as the saving itself is consider able. From the salaries of Ambassadors have been struck off more than 10,0001., the amount being reduced from 142,584/. to 132,1451., though the mission to Greece, amounting to 2,9001., has been added to the latter. The item of special commis sions sent to South America, which in 1826 amounted to 21,9801., necessarily dropped off last year, la! 4Pie tteceSaity for them had ceased; but we owe' tHe'Goveriinfentthanks for its reduction of the eipelices of Envoys to these States from 25,3571. to 15,5721. Such propitious attempts at saving ' the public money offer the cheering prospect of still jeore extensive retrenchment, should the courageous Teoittance:of fle Government ;o the perpetuity of abuses, and its resolution to cut down extravagance, be reinforced by the approbation of the country and the - garages of 'the - independent portioilof Patlia ment.—Times. Lord Goderich made a clever speech the other night on the finances, though we are not altogether satisfied that those parts of his statements which passed off most triumphantly at the time possessed more than one of the two great qualities aimed at by men of talent in public discussion : they were itigr nious, but we doubt that they were true. his Lord ship was incontrovertibly right in affirming that the debt of England is in substance an annuity redeem able only by the payment of a certain sum of money. But when his Lordship goes on to add that the na tion has paid off a portion of the capital of its debt. bearing the ratio of 150,000,0001. of principal to 4,500,0001. of annual interest by which the sum total of interest has been reduced, we take leave to doubt the correctness of Lord Goderich's proposition. Many private gentlemen have been enabled to reduce the interest of their debts; and why ? Because mosey Had become of less value than before, and the interest of the loan was consequently lowered. But have these gentlemen so reduced the interest on their mort gages, as that the sum remaining annually out of their rents for clear income bears a larger propor tion to the interest money than before that interest had been diminished ? Undoubtedly not. If the value of money put out on loan has fallen, so the rents of land have fallen; and if the interest pay able on the mortgage has been diminished, so has the part of the rental remaining untouched. The gentleman who pays less interest and less taxes than he used to do, has not, therefore, or at least in a very trifling degree, a larger proportion of his rents than formerly to expend on comforts, and in fact has experienced no relief; so the same process through which the interest on the public debt has been reduced, has :educed likewise the annual pro duce of laud, commerce, manufactures, &c. (in money), out of which that interest is defrayed. We do not, in truth, believe that 4,500,0001. is a greater deduction faint the total interest of the debt in 1816, than would correspond with the general diminution of the income of the country, if the present amount be contrasted with that of 1816. On the contrary, it is our firm opinion, that if one seventh of interest has been reduced, we have ex perienced a reduction fully equal to one-fourth in public and private revenue. The result, therefore, we submit to Lord Goderich, is not quite so bril liant as his Lordship's speech has described it. Take off 8,000,0004 a year from taxes on necessaries, &c., and repair the revenue by a more skilful dis tribution of its items, and Lord Goderich may then have some more solid ground of congratulation.-- Times. Every thing from the pen of Mr. Barton is en titled to attention. We have just received a pam phlet, published by him, under the title of A State ment rf the Consequences likely to ensue from our growing Excess of Population, if not remedied by Colonization, in v hick we think he rather, like Mr. Huskisson and some others, over-estimates the de terioration of the condition of the labouring classes. Mr. Barton lives in Sussex, and it is difficult for any man to escape local influence in his specula tions. There is partial deterioration unquestion ably, but in many districts the labouring classes are not worse off now than at any former period. A Northumbrian or a Scotchman, knowing that the condition of farm-labourers in the North of Eng land and South of Scotland, where they are paid in agricultural produce, has the best evidence for an improvement in their condition, for the food they receive is positively greater in quantity, as well as better in quality, now than was the case forty years ago; and as manufactures are cheaper, there is no set-off against the food. A native, again, of the South of England infers a ge neral deterioration of the agricultural labourers, because their condition has unquestionably deteriorated in that part of the country. Mr. Bal ton states that there are particular periods in the history of this country when the population has ra pidly increased; and that these periods have been followed by decline in the real wages of labour and disease and crime. Referring to Acts of Pallid rnent and other documents, he infers that the period of Elizabeth, in particular, resembled the present, and indicates that if we do not look about us, we may expect the same disasters which then followed over-population. " It may be inferred (he says), with at least great pro bability, from these and other similar records of the six teenth and seventeenth centuries, that an increase of popu lation was then taking place, such as prevails at the pre sent day. And it is certain that during the greater part of the last century, such an increase of population did not take place. If, therefore, we desire to ascertain what effects may be expected to follow from the present state of things by reasoning from past experience, we must look back from 150 or 250 years ; and in so doing, we shall be quite surprised to discover how very remarkable a pa rallel exists between the circumstances of the time of Elizabeth and those of the present day. " In the first place the rapid increase of population was followed, as in our times, by a great decline in the real wages of labour, i. e. in the price of labour measured in corn or other commodities. Comparing the rate of wages with the price of wheat on an average of the five preceding years, we shall find that in 1495 a labourer could purchase with his week's wages one hundred and ninety-nine pints of wheat ; in the year 1593, towards the close of Elizabeth's reign, only eighty-two pints ; in 1610, only forty-six pints.* So that in the reign of James I. a labourer could obtain only one-fourth part of the necessaries and conveniences which he obtained in the reign of Henry VII. Just such a decline in the real wages of labour, though not to so great an extent, has taken place in our own times ; and at both periods it is undoubtedly to be attributed to the same cause, viz, to an increase:in the number of labourers faster than the increase of funds destined for their employment. The fact be comes still more striking, when it is known that at the same intermediate period of our history, in which, as I have said before, the rate of population became nearly stationary, wages measured in corn experienced a very considerable advance. This is proved both by a compa rison of prices at different dates, and by the universal complaints of political writers about the middle of the last century, of the dearness of labour, and the difficulty of obtaining workmen." _ _ Mr. Barton, we think, attaches too much import ance to the partial evidence which our domestic history affords us as to the condition of the labour ing classes. From Sir John Mac Callum's valuable History of the Parish of Hawsted, the condition of the labouring people in the time of Henry VII., ap pears to have been any thing but comfortable. Again during the first part of last century, there are pam phlets on pamphlets representing the working people as in a most wretched condition. In a pamphlet published in 1739, for instance, tinder the title of " The Miseries of the Miserable; or an Essay to wards laying open the Decay of the fine Woollen Trade, and the unhappy condition of the poor Wilt shire Manufacturers," we find that the Truck Sys tem had become then prevalent from the distresses of the workmen : " It is the almost universal complaint," says the writer, " of these poor people, that they cannot earn even a tolerable maintenance for themselves and families, by their honest labour and industry at their several trades.— This is the complaint of the most industrious poor, who work 12, 14, 16 hours out of 24, and live with the greatest soberness and frugality." . . " Many in stances might be found of industrious weavers who, in this last winter, were from five to ten weeks a piece in weaving a cloth of about 405." . . . " These poor wretches don't want to grow rich, but to get bread for themselves and their families. The price of necessaries is rai , ed to them considerably above the common rates, both by truching masters, or their relations, or dependents, at whose shops the poor are obliged to buy things." We notice these things, because we believe that there has never been that uniform deterioration or uniform improvement which Mr. Barton describes. We Oa on a future day enter more fully into this subject as connected with the remedy.--31. Chron. Lord Goderich, who, when Chancellor of the Exchequer, made himself so memorable by discover ing ire the operations of the Bubble Companies con * Comp are th e T a bl es o f th e R a t e o f Wages in the third v o l ume of Eden on the Poor, with the Tables of the Prices of Corn in the same work, elusive proofs that a " tide of prosperity was flow ing in upon the nation, through the portals of a Con stitutional monarchy"—Lord Goderich, who, as Prime Minister, fled in dismay from the post of honour which he had just received the Royal com mission to defend—Lord Goderich, who, as a simple Member of the House of Peers, ought to consider himself happy in the obscurity from which he ought never to have emerged—has just an nounced another discovery, and that is that the national debt is not an " intolerable burden" to the people, because, in fact, it is no debt: in the proper sense of the word, but a contract to pay an annuity. It would be a happy thing indeed for the country, if this enormous load of debt—a debt unparalleled in amount in the history of the world, could be wiped out by the sponge of his Lordship's financial rhetoric ! But we fear this mode of gating rid of the principal of the debt will be as ineffectual as the Sinking Fund itself ! that grand delusion, which is about as rational as an attempt to put out the flames of Mount Vesuvius by a pail of water ! We had al ways supposed until now that borrowed money constituted a debt, whether the borrower was a private individual or a nation—but it was reserved for this admirable financier to discover that money borrowed by a Government, and for which interest is paid because it is not convenient to pay off the principal, is not a debt, but a contract to pay an annuity ! lie says " a common debt implies that while it is competent for the debtor to relieve himself from the debt, it is equally competent for the creditor to demand interest as well as principal; but with respect to the national debt, the public cre ditor cannot claim the principal—all he can demand is art annuity in the shape of interest." Now we will ask his Lordship, if this be the case, why is it that, in tat der to keep faith with the creditor, it is necessary, whenever the interest of any portion of the debt is about to be reduced, to give him the option of receiving back the principal ? Does this ' show that it is a debt merely of interest ar►d not capital ? Let us suppose, in the present instance of lowering the Four per Cents., that all the holders in that Stock preferred having their capital returned to submitting to receive the reduced interest, in what situation would the Government be. What would be the consequence, we ask, if they could not, as we believe they could not, pay that portion of the capital in gold ? Would the notable distinction taken by Lord Goderich between a common and a public debt relieve them from an act of bankruptcy ? We do not in this say a word about the policy of the measure, which we consider a fair and proper one so long as no financial stratagem is had recourse to for the purpose of carrying it into effect, though we are aware that in many instances it must work indivi dual hardship. Let us suppose the time had come when the Government could no longer squeeze more taxes out of the country than would be sufficient to pay half the present rate of interest on the whole debt. They must then also give the creditors the option of taking back their capital, or receiving the diminished inte rest. Suppose the creditors chose the former alter. native, the Government must then be prepared to repay the whole capital—a sum which all the kingdoms of Europe could not pay—or they must declare the nation in a state of insolvency, and meet or fly from the consequences. But let us suppose, for a moment, that the public debt meant nothing more than a contract to pay an annuity—annuitants are proverbially said to be very long-lived; but Lord Goderich, in drawing distinctions between a public debt and common one, forgot to draw a dis tinction also between a public annuity and a private one. In the latter case the annuitant may be, in deed, very long-lived, but in the former case the annuitant never dies—for he will not pretend to say that the interest of the debt, or what he calls the annuity, can never expire until the principal is paid off—which, without claiming any gift of prophecy, we may safely say will never happen. Well, here is an annuity which, in point of time, is not termi nable, and, in point of extent, is equal to about half the taxation of the country—being, at least, 28 millions I.—a burden which causes, along with extravagant expenditure, a war-taxation in the 15th year of peace. We say a war-taxation, for we con fidently affirm, and we defy Lord Goderich or any body_ else to disprove it, that the quantity of taxes reduced since the war has been more than laid on by the change in the currency. If one-fourth of the taxes have been reduced, money has been en hanced by Mr. Peel's Bill in more than that pro portion. We believe the enhancement has been shown to be nearer one-half than to one-fourth— certainly more than a third, so that 80,000,0001. of taxes paid in the depreciated currency of the war, would be less in value, and, therefore, less burdensome than 54,000,0001. of taxes at present. Lord Goderich, with great liberality of calculation, says that, since the year 1816, the public debt has been, or rather will be, as soon as the present plan relative to the Four per Cents. is carried into effect, reduced to the extent of 150 millions. Even if this statement were correct, which it is not, the reduction has been more than couriteibbalanced by the addition of upwards of 200 millions in value, which the alteration in the currency has made to the debt. 1,000 millions borrowed in the depre ciated currency being nominally greater, but virtually less, than 800 millions to be paid in the currency, as enhanced by Mr. Peel's celebrated Act. An enhanced currency has produced low prices. But Lord Goderich says he is a friend to " low prices, and does not grudge the stockholder the full benefit of them." Indeed ! 1., his Lordship then a friend to that state of things which beggars the farmer— which breaks down the manufacturer—which starves the artisan—which banishes the vigorous and sub stantial yeomanry to fore►gn climes, and gives up those who remain behind a prey to pauperism and destitution ? Low prices may do very well with low taxation, low poor -rates, and low rents—but as prices are the means out of which the farmer and the manufacturer pay their taxes, their rates, and their rents, together with the expenses of their farms and factories, it follows that, if the prices are so low that taxation of itself nearly swallows them up, the farmer and the manufacturer cannot go on, even although they reduce their wages miserably low, without paying their rents and rates out of their capital, a practice that soon converts embar rassment into irretrievable insolvency.—Morning Herald. Ministers have repeatedly pledged themselves to effect every possible reduction in the national expen diture. How far they have kept their promise— how far they are sincere —how far this promise is not a delusion, may best be seen by the present state of what is called the dead weight. The sum paid annually in the shape of half pay, pensions, superannuations, allowances, &c., amounts to up wards of five millions, and yet it is no matter who dies, or who lives, or who compounds, the sum never diminishes, but, on the contrary, rather increases. This might be satisfactorily explained if we were at war, keeping up enormous establish ments by sea and land, continually increasing the numbers of the lame, the blind, the orphans, and widows of officers. Our military and naval esta blishments have been reduced since the peace, the former two-thirds, and the latter three-fourths; but, notwithstanding this, we have as many half pay ::idows, and orphans people; as many superannuated G enera l s an d Admi rals; t as many poor soldiers an d sa il ors; as many Captains, Commanders, and Pursers ; as many sur geons, ; and as many foreign pensioners as we had during the war . G oo d G o d T. do these a peopleti officer lle errdett ? When a man o b ta i ns a pension, es on h a lf pay, or w h en a widow comes within the embraces of the Treasury, does she receive a patent of perpet ua l lif e ? D o these persons, wit h a portion of their pensions, purchase a charm that renews their yo u th an d pro longs their existence ? Not one of t h em seems to drop off. Other people die, as we are told. Some are killed in the streets, some are drowned, some are burned, some are m urdered, some a re h ange d . B ut, if we can credit the Parliamentary papers, none of these little casualties happen to the ladies and gen tlemen of the dead weight. Their life is an eternal autumn—all are sick, or lame, or in the sear— yet not a soul thinks of leaving us, even from cha rity, or from a benevolent desire to reduce the pres sure of the public burthens. This must be inferred from the documents just published. In 1826 these immortal beings cost the nation .5,376,6744, in 1827 they cost 5,455,9904, in 1828 they cost 5,362,6701., and in 1829 the cost actually showed a trifling increase, namely, .5,363,64.01. How this happens it would be presumptuous in us even to conjecture. We only know the fact, and see that we pay accordingly. We may on the whole be re ducing our expenditure, but this surely is an odd way of doing it. How the number of our pen sioners and half-pay officers should be increasing, in our sixteenth yt ar of peace, is a mystery which we confess we cannot solve. There must be fraud or corruption somewhere—there must be pensions paid to people in Heaven or elsewhere, otherwise the increase can only be explained by gross negligence, or grosser extravagance, on the part of his Majesty's Ministers. Some of the items in this return are of a curious sort. To militia anjutantF, serjeant-majors, and local militia adjutants we are paying 28,017/. per annum. To foreign pensioners, most of whom ought by the laws of nature to be in their graves, we are still paying about 100,0001. a year. To one class of these foreigners we paid in 1828 the sum of 14,0994; but the same class received in 1829, their numbers we suppose have increased, 18,7121. How is this accounted for ? Here is an increase of upwards of 4,000/. in the annuities of one class of these foreign pensioners, without any visible deduc tion in the other class. Will Sir Francis Burdett, or any other patriot, do the public the favour to inquire into this—and explain ? Again the " widow's charity" (what is it ?) cost us in 1826 just 138,780/., but in 1829 its cost was 148,372/. These must be fruitful widows or do they beget one another, and additional pensions at the same time ? Ten thousand pounds is something—but the widows have it all their own way. The follow ing are also increasing charges—mostly, we admit, in favour of the fair sex : 1126. 1129. Widows' Pensions (Military) £144,103 £151,226 Compassionate List (Ditto) 37,166 37,592 Allowance to Widows, &c.(Navy) 7,731 12,801 Pensions, Widows and Children (Ord.) ..... 21,614 22,910 Pensions, Widows (Civil) 3,974 4,666 Irish Widows, &c. (Ditto) 4,261 4,09 £219,549 233,63 This exhibits an increase in favour of widows and their children, &c., since 1826, of about 14,0001., which with the 10,0001. previously stated gives an increase highly flattering to the liberality of the times and the prosperous state of the country. But there is one charge that surprises us most of any, namely, the enormous sum of 416,9981. per annum paid to retired tax-gatherers. Who these persons are, where they are, what they have done, or what they are doing, Heaven and, perhaps, Horace Twiss only know—but it is a shame !—Morning Journal. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PLYMOUTH, MAY 6.—Extract of a letter from an Officer on board his Majesty's surveying ship Blossom, dated Cape Francois, St. Domingo, 28th March, 1830 : " I shall now detail to you our proceedings since we left Port-au-Prince, in the beginning of January last. After clearing the Bay, we continued our track surveying along the coast, as far as Cape Nicholas Mole, where we ran in and watered (which has been trigonometricallyaurveyed by Lieutenant Allen), a place now scarcely worth a pound of powder ; one small dilapidated fort constitates its whole defence, and so destitute is it, that some days' notice is required to obtain a fresh supply of fresh meat and ♦egetables for a single ship ; there are, however, vi.ible the remains of some splendid fortifications, as well as a well laid out, and I should say pretty, well built town. Sailed on the 20th Jan. and continued surveying the coast of Hayti as well as the Isle of Tortuga, until we arrived off Port-au-Prince, where we anchored for the night, went on shore, where we observed the latitude and longitude ; then stood off to the northward for Turk'e Islands, where we arrived on the 25th, and remained until the Bth February surveying the different Islands and anchor ages, and also rating the chronometers. You will scarcely credit it that the Turk's Islands Bank, which is thirty-five miles in length and thirteen in breadth, and closely studded with islands, sunken rocks, and shoals of every description has been closely and tr igonornetrically surveyed in the short space of fourteen days. There are only two of those Islands inhabited : one, the Grand Turk, which is about five miles and a half in length, and one and a half in breadth; the other, Salt Key, about two miles long and one broad; their produce is nothing but salt, not even a spring of water, ■or the least useful vegetable ; but the inhabitants,;besides their product of salt, don't forget to enrich their stores by the vast number of wrecks which unfortunately happen on the coast. The population is about two thousand, one-fifth of which are white, and free persons of colour, and the rest slaves. Having finished our work here, we stood off to the shoal called the Square Handkerchief, which has proved the destruction of many ships, from its position being se very incorrectly laid down in all the charts. Having finished this (which we had to do astronomically there being no land whatever in sight), wo went on to the Silver Bank, a similar one, but of a much larger extent: here our water falling short, we ran for Puerto-da-Plata, on the coast of Hay ti. This place was once renowned for its wealth, but it does not at present appear to possess much. The country around it is perhaps the most delightful you can figure to your imagination, and is also celebrated for its salubrity. Having completed wood and water, we re turned to the Silver Bank, which having finished, we ar rived at the Turk's Islands on the 12th inst. and re-rated the chronomoters. We then commenced work on the cluster of islands called the Cayros, but our provisions running short, we were obliged to run for this place where we have Just arrived. We expect to finish the Cayros Bank and Island, and be at Nassau, New Providence, about the latter end of April ; remain probably a few weeks to rate chronometers and refit. There is no idle bread ate here." His Majesty's ship Success sailed from Sydney N.S.W. for Madras October 17. The Favourite remained at Alexandria, E., March 18. The Renard has arrived at Halifax from Falmouth. The Plover, from Falmouth, arrived at Barbadoes previous to 19th March. The Sa tellite arrived at Calcutta from Madras 24th December. The Crocodile sailed from Calcutta for New South Wales, 30th December. The Challenger sailed from Madras for Calcutta, Ist January. 'The Tweed and the Jaseur have arrived at the Mauritius. The Southampton arrived at Penang previous to October 6. The Arachne arrived at Vera Cruz from Jamaica, March 11. The Sphynx ar rived at ditto from Falmouth, March 12. The Mayflower, Martin, of and from this port, arrived at Corunna April 7. The Brothers, Forbes, arrived at Rouen, from Cardiff, April 22. The Maria, Cuming, of and from this port, arrived at Lisbon 12th April ; and Eliza, Edwards, and Margaret, Bulley, 13th do. The Solace, Cross, of this port, from Newport, for Messina, put into St. Mary's, Scilly, April 19; and on the night of the 23d, it blowing a strong gale, with a heavy sea, she parted one of her chain cables and drove near the rocks, hut on making signals of distress two or three boats came off with an anchor and sable, and she rode out the gale. Two large ships and a brig, supposed to be foreign men-of-war, were seen in the offing on Tuesday, supposed to be standing up Channel. The Carron steam-vessel, Lieut. B. Aplin, late of the Skylark packet brig, arrived here on Sunday morning from Portsmouth, to supply the place of the Meteor, going it is supposed, at the end of the week, with a mail to the Mediterranean. The Blitomai t, 10, Commander Johnson, sailed the same day for Scotland. Our late highly respected Port Admiral, the Right Hon. Earl of Northesk, G.C.11., Rear-Admiral of Great Bri tain, struck his flag on board the St. Vincent, on Friday evening, and that ship was paid off in the course of the same day, and recommissioned on Saturday to proceed to Portsmouth, to bear the flag of Admiral Sir Thos. Foley. The Vigilant, 10, Lieut. Loney, returned on Friday from the southward and westward. The Clio, 18, is ordered to be Commissioned at this port or foreign service. His Majesty's ship Galatea, 12, Capt. C. Napier, C. 8., arrived here tin Tuesday morning, from Portsmouth. She is to attend the St. Vincent to that port. The Bramble cutter, 10, Lieut. Haswell, sailed for Fal mouth on Tuesday. The Blanche frigate was hauled off from hhe Dock-yard yesterday, alongside a hulk, to be pointed. Captain Hyde Parker arrived . yesterday front Ports mouth, with a party of men from the Victory, and took the command of the St. Vincent. Men are lent to assist in working her round from the Kent, Undaunted, and Blanche. We understand Admiral Earl Northesk, Capt. Hawker, and their families, will proceed round to Ports. mouth in the St. Vincent, on their route to their places of private residence. in Hatrioaze—Caledonia, St. Vincent, Kent, Ocean, Blanche, Conflict, Royalist, Goldfinch, Antelope, Carron. In Barnpool—Undannted. At the Island—Vigilant. In the Sound—Galatea, Leveret. In Catwater--Izabel Brazilian. APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS. —Capt. Richard Dickenson, CB., 'Lieuts. George Winsor, Charles W. Pears, and Mr. John Curtis, are appointed to his Majesty's ship Talbot, ordered to be fitted at Portsmouth for foreign service. CoMmander John James Onslow, and Lieut. H. T. Harris, (from his Majesty's ship Donegal), are ap pointed to his Majesty's ship Clio, ordered 'to be fitted at this port for foreign service. Capt. Hyde Parker, and Commander 0. Foley, are appointed to his Majesty's skip St. Vincent, flag-ship at Portsmouth, Lieuts. T. Verno❑ Watkins, W. Calmady 11lowell, and Charles Gayton, from his Majesty's ship Prince Regent, (flag Lieutenant) are also appointed to the St. Vincent. Lieutenants W. Carr, Frederick Henry H. Glasse, and James Mure, from his Majesty's ship St. Vincent, and Jeffery Reid Amherst, Herbert J. Jones, and Matthew Foot, from his Majesty's ship Ocean) flag Lieutenant, are appointed to the Caledonia.— Mr. John Fillis is appointed Purser to the Caledonia...— Capt. John Duff Markland, C.B. and Lieuts. Nicholas Cory, C. W. H. G. Fitzroy, Joseph Francis Stirling (from his Majesty's ship Prince Regent), and Henry J. Codrington (from the Prince Regent), are appointed to his Majesty's ship Briton, which has been recommis sioned for channel service. Mr. J Tapson is' ap pointed Purser, and the Reverend John Marshall (from his Majesty's ship Revenge), Chaplain to the Briton. Lieutenants Charles Hopkins (b), Adam C. Duncan, and Henry D. Tsvysden, are appointed to his Majesty's ship Prince Regent, vice Lieutenants Codring ton, Gapton, and Stirling. Lieut. George Buchanan is appointed to be flag Lieutenant of Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir H. Blackwood, on beard the Prince Regent, vice Ward. Commander Henry Baugh is appointed to the Ordinary at Sheerness, vice Gordon. Commander Joseph Gape, and Lieut. James llamilton Ward (from the Prince Regent) are appointed to his Majesty's ship Pelican. Mr. Richard Roberts, of his Majesty's ship Sybille, is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and appointed to his Majesty's ship Eden. Mr. Fred. Blair, of his Majesty's ship Warspite, is promoted - to the rank of Lieutenant, and appointed to that ship vice Henderson, deceased, and Mr. W. M. J. G. Pascoe is appointed Lieutenant for rank. Mr. J. Marsh, of his Majesty's ship Warspite, is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and appointed to that ship, vice Cumisy, in. valided. Mr. F. W. Austen, of his Majesty's ship Blonde, is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.—Lieut. Richard B. Crawford, is appointed to his Majesty's ship Donegal vice Harris. Mr. Cooke, Chief Mate of the Levia than Convict Hulk, is appointed Master to the Racoon Hospital ship, vice Hall, dismissed. Lieutenant Washington Carr (1821) is appointed to the Caledonia, vice A. Sinclair, moved to the Clio. By the last information from Fernando Po, we hear that Captain Morgan and four marines were all that re.. mained alive of a detachment of 50 men taken out by that officer. Colonel Nichols had gone to Ascension for the recovery of his health. He lost his voice from the effects of the disease of the climate. Letters from his Majesty's ship Winchester (with the flag of Vice-Admiral Griffith Colpoys), bearing date Bar badees, March 13, state, that she was to sail on the fol lowing day for Jamaica, leaving instructions at Barbadoes for Vice-Admiral Fleeming, should the Winchester not fall in with the Barham, to join the former officer at Ja maica. BREAK WATER FOR PORTLAND ROADS. We are led to make a few brief observations on this subject, in addition to the arguments we have already advanced in its favour, and the remarks which we have made in advocating it, in consequence of having just seen an early copy of the new edition of the late Mr. Harvey's Remarks on the subject of a Breakwater for Portland Roads, with considerable valuable additional matter by his son, Mr. John Harvey, of Weymouth. This is a little work which we strongly recommend, not merely to engineers and those who feel an interest in works of this kind, but to the attention of the public in general, for a subject which has more powerful claims upon that attention, or which is calculated to prove of more general importance than the projected Breakwater, is seldom agitated. The original projector of the undertaking, the late lamented and talented Mr. John Harvey, felt a deep and almost absorbing in terest in the subject, and up to the period of his decease, in November, 1829, he entertained the same opinion of the feasibility of his plan, its vast impor tance in a national point of view, and the claims which it had upon the patronage and advocacy of all who felt an interest in the cause of humanity. A considerable portion of the later period of his life was devoted to the elucidation of the measure, and in entleavours to procure its execution ; and no lapse of time, no untoward circumstances, could avert his attention from it. His son has also, not only in the present work,—but equally in the zeal with which he has long advocated the project, shown the high sense he entertains of the measure, and the necessity which exists for its adoption. In the little publication before us, they have most plainly and happily given to the public the most cogent arguments in favour of the practicability of the undertaking; contending that the best in terests, and perhaps the future safety, of Great Bri tain, are connected with its speedy adoption. Much credit is due to the writers for the perspicuity which they have displayed upon the subject ; and we are assured that their remarks and zeal have already suc ceeded in exciting considerable attention, and in rendering the importance of the measure gradually apparent to the public. On perusing the additional remarks contained in the present pamphlet, the opi nion of which we have often expressed as to the necessity for, the practicability of the work is much confirmed. As serving to counteract the ef forts making by the French at the formidable poft of Cherbourg----as establishing an asylum not only for our :merchantmen, but for the British navy, when distressed by adverse winds or storms—as a means of preserving human life to an almost incal culable extent, by affording a secure haven to vessels which might otherwise he wrecked on the dangerous vicinal coast—and as affording a secure and com manding rendezvous for our fleets in time of war— it is well worthy the nation of England, the empress of the seas, to establish a project would tend so much to her honour. The work will prove an ad mirable companion to the chart which Mr. H. pnb-. lished some time since, and which has succeeded fully in explaining the importance of the undertaking in a national view, as affording that depot to coun- ' teract Cherbourg which is so much wanted between Plymouth and Portsmouth. We have also seen a letter on the subject, addressed to Mr. Harvey by Captain J. Bennett, R.N., in which the benefits to the cause of humanity which would result from the measure, by the Breakwater aifording a shelter in storms, are placed in a'striking point of view. The important national and social benefit which would follow the erection of the Breakwater, and the ease, and comparatively trifling expense, at which it may be formed, are such that we earnestly hope that the efforts of the worthy authors of the little work be fore us, may be so far successful as to impress the importance of the measure upon the minds of those influential personages through whom alene the pro ject can be carried into execution.—Dorsei County Chronicle. About eleven o'clock on Wednesday fore noon, the neighbourhood and passengers along Gray's inn-lane-road, were greatly alarmed by the cry of " mad dog !" and immediately thereafter seeing a dog, evidently in a rabid state, running towards Battle-bridge, followed by ten or twelve fellows, hallooing with all their might, and bawling to the passengers to kill the (log, as he had bitten two children in Liquorpond street. No one, how ever, undertook the dangerous task on that part of the road. On arriving at Battle-bridge, the dog proceeded up the New-road, and bit a young man in the leg, but most fortunately his boots and trousers prevented the teeth of the animal from penetrating further than breaking the skis. The young man, however, took the precaution of proceeding instantly to the nearest surgeon's for advice.— Immediately aferwards, near the end of Tottenham-court road, the enraged animal attacked a fine spaniel, which he bit in the neck. The rabid dog them proceeded at a quick rate towards the Southampton Arms, Camden -town, but he was very fortunately stopped in his career by a spirited countryman, who felled him to the ground with his walk ing-stick, and before the dog could recover from the effects of the blow he was destroyed. MARKET INTELLIGENC2. LONDON MARKETS. • (From the London New trice Current of iesteritai.) SUGAR.—The supplies ef new Sugars have considerabif increased this week; as the buyers are Still out of spat they pu rc h ase f ree l y a t the .late inarkit prices the esti' mated sales of Musc o vades thi s w ee k are 3,000' We.' and tees. In Refined there is little alteration ; the mat-keel s so indifferently supplied with goods, that the holders de' mand very full prices; but no decided improvement''' be stated. FORHIG N SUGAR.—The purchases of Foreign Sugar hi private contract are 70 chests white Pernams, 28s. a 33.. ; a considerable parcel of white Havannah at the prices of last sale. At public sale 600 chests, 417 boxes Broil, nearly all the sound was taken in, chiefly white Pernano damaged, sold I9s. a 255. ; a few brown and yellow, 14s. a 18s. EAST INDIA SUGAR.—The public sales of Mauritius Sugars this week 18,000 bags; all descriptions of lovi yellow and brown are is. lower; the reduction may be stated to apply to all Sugars under 50s. ; the mid. arid fine fully support late prices. In Bengal, Siam, or other East India Sugars, the purchases are inconsiderable. BY public sale this day 5,395 bags Mauritius Sugars. The whole went off with briskness at very full market pried, and in some instances a shade higher; the greater propel"' tion taken for export. Col:WPM—There were considerable public sales no Tuesday ; 2,600 bags Brazil sold good to fine ord. 325. 6c l . a 375. ; 1,400 bags Sumatra and Batavia sold ls. lower' 265. 6d. a 325. The Demarara and Berbice sold 3s. a 6 0 ; per cwt. lower ; since then the quantity brought forward has been on a limited scale, and there is little alteration in prices. There were no public sales this forenoon ;it i° stated a parcel of good ord. St. Domingo has been sold at 325. Rum, BRANDY, AND HOLLANDS.—The demand for Rum continues nearly suspended; the purchases this week are inconsiderable for enumeration. Brandy is held "Wi t b much firmness.—Geneva is still neglected. HRAIP, FLAX, AND TALLOW..—TaIIow is more firm , particularly for arrival ; the prices of the latter are a shade higher, 355. 9d. a 365. In Hemp or Flax there is no ma terial alteration. bum Pitovlsroars.—Beef and Pork are little varied. Bacon maintains the late advance. Butters are dull on account of the fine weather, and the new Butter being offered on arrival at lower prices ; the Dutch has fallen 10s. per cwt. WooL.—There is no alteration in Wool; the Market is rather heavy. SALTPET2 E.—There is no alteration in Saltpetre. Serczs.—Spices have become dull; Pepper id. to lower. Corrox.—The demand for Cotton has again revived , and the prices have recovered the small reduction we 0' ticed last week. The purchases for the week ending 1 0 night inclusive, consist of 60 Bengal, 4d. 4.id. ; 2,57 0 Surat, 4id. a sd. ; 100 Bowed, 61d. a bid. INDIGO.—Since the close of the sale at the India House the demand for Indigo has considerably improved ; tb a consumption (though fallen off compared with last year) is still very considerable, and the trade being attracted by the great reduction in the prices, it is confidently anti cipated that the market will improve in demand, if not is prices. Mcx.—There is no alteration in the demand or in the prices of Rice. PRICES OF HOPS.-May 7. Kent Pockets 5/ 125. 6/. 105. to 91 Oa. Sussex Ditto a ss. 51. 18s. to 61. 6s. Vosex Ditto . 51. 12s. 61. 6s. to '7l. Os. Fatiatiam Ditto, 01. Os. 81. Os. to 91. 95. Seconds ..-.. 01. Os. 71. Os to 81. Ss. Kent Bags , 51. Cs. 61. Os. to 61. I. Essex Ditto 4l. 15s. 51. 10s. to 5/. 15s. Sussex Ditto Kidne: PRICE OF POTATOES.—May 7. 0!. Os. to U. Os. per ton. d 3 01. Os. to 31. 10s. ditto. PRICE OF OIL. Rape Oil, brown 991. Refined f4 l I Q Linseed Oil - 2 10 Q 9 Linseed Oil Cake at the Mill, per thousand Rape Cake, per ton PRICES OF Per lb. d. to d. Butts 50 to 561 b... 19) Ditt0.—...60 to 661 b.... 21 22 Dressing 14 16 Fine Coach Rides —. 17 19 Crop Hides, 35 to 401 b. 14 151 Ditto 45 to 501 b. 141 171 Dtto .18 191 WHITECHAPEL H H.sy 40,0 d. to 90s. Od. LEATHER. ---- Per lb. d. to d. Tanned Horse Hides.. 16 12 Spanish Ditto 21 25 Per dozen. Calf Skins,. 36 to 41kb. 14 1$ Ditto to 70Ib. 21 26 Ditto 70 to 801 b. 18 21 Small Seals. Greenland 20 21 Y Al A 11K E'r.—Aray 6. ('lover Od. to 110 e. Od. 6e. Od. to 51a. Od. RAW HIDES. Per Stone. 2.01. to s. d. Per Stone. a. d. to a. a: Rest Heifwis& Staers2 10 3 0 Ordinary 18 2 4 2 6 Market 6 (leech. SHEEP SKINS. Polled N. 6d. to ss. Od. Shearlings.......... Os. Od. too,. 6d. 2 6 3 4 Lambs .1 3 1 9 PRICE OF TALLOW, S , Town Tallow 395. Od. Yellow 375. Od. White 375. Od. Soap Ditto 3ls. Od. Melted Ats. Ditto Rough l7s. Od. lAP, &c. per 1121b.—May 7. Yellow Soap. 72s. Mottled 7Ss, Od. White Sgs. 04. Graves Us. od. Good 011 PRICE OF RAW FAT, per stone et 811).—May 7. Price of Tallow (as stated by the Tallow Melters)....----.16. lid. PRICE OF CANDLES. The price of Store Candles, in the retail shops, Is as follows Candles, per dos. 7s. Od. to Ss. Od. I M ou ld s , per stozei —9l. 6d. COUNTRY CORN MARKETS DURING THE WEEK. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beans. Per Quarter. Ashburn.—.......-, Basingstoke Bath 56 62 55 80 43 70 62 68 64 68 60 70 70 74 56 72 60 70 51 76 Bridgewater ......«. Bristol _ . Chesterfield —..... Derby ---- Devizes * Doncaster —......... Dorchester ....—.-- Exeter— Hungerford 53 78 54 80 Newbury Romsey ---,. Shaftesbury --..... Shepton Mallet .... 5herb0rne...—........ 43 5.3 N.S 68 48 62 59 66 140 74 160 68 s. d. s. d. 11 0 11 3 Taunton Yeovil Per Bushel. Shrewsbury 34 38 26 36 26 38 24 36 34 36 30 33 37 39 23 38 20 Sf 30 39 34 36 30 36 20 36 20 36 26 36 31 26 33 24 32 18 38 31. 38 s. d. s. d. 33 60 24 24 20 30 22 32 20 22 26 21 23 2G 30 22 33 19 30 24 34 22 24 19 25 19 33 42 46 SS 45 40 56 32 40 39 44 40 46 38 42 32 48 45 47 44 48 34 41 37 40 23 34 24 30 -- 28 20 26 20 26 16 28 22 24 s. d. P. d. 56 70 36 46 - 14; 40 5.?. 40 48 36 45 44 .49 s. d. s. d. 00"00 BIRMINGHAM CORN MARKET.—May 6. s. d. to s. .d. Wheat, per 621 b. Barley, per Imperial quarter ' 32 0 41 0 Malt 52 0 62 0 Pease 3B 0 44 0 Beans, per bag of 10 score gross Oats, per 391 b. Fine Flour, per sack of 2801 b. 53 0 54 0 Seconds 49 0 51 0 To invest rare o BIRTHS. On the 6th inst, the lady of Mr. S. T. Bull, architect, of Holles.street, Cavendish-square, and of Fortees Terrace, Kentish Town, of a son. On the sth inst. at Denmark-hill, Mrs. Stroud, of a boy, still-born. On the 4th inst. at Woodslee, Dumfries-shire, the lady of G. Scott Elliott, Esq. of a son. On the lat inst. at Hampton-court, Mrs. Whitefoord, of a daughter, still-born. MARRIED. On the 6th inst. at Leire, Leicestershire, Henry Bir. mingham, of the Middle Temple, Esq., Barrister, eldest son of Thomas Birmingham, E•q. of Froyle, Hants, to Mary Baldwin, only daughter of the Rev. G. N. Watkins, of a son. On the 4th inst. at St. George's, Marylebone, Captain R. H. King, R.N., to Mary, daughter of the late S. Twyford, Esq. of Trotton, Sussex. DIED. On the 2d inst. at her apartments in Hampton-court Palace, the Right Hon. Frances Lady Lavington. On the 6th inst. at her apai tuaents in Hanapton=cimrt Palace, after a long and painful illness, Lavinia, wife of Lieut.-Col. Cotton. On the let inst. at Ecton-cottage, Northamptonshire, Ann Orlebar, eldest daughter of the late R. Orlebar, Esq. of liinwick-house, Bedfordshire. At Calcutta, on the 23d of December, after an illness of a few days, brought on by over-exertion in his official duties, as Judge of Jessore, John Rycroft Best, Esq., aged 29, the eldest son of John Rycroft Best, Esq. of the island of Barbadoes. On the 14th of February, on her passage from Bombay to England, Mary Anne, wife of Lieut.-Gen. Sir Thomas Bradford, K.C.B. and K. T.S., late Commander in Chief at the Presidency of Bombay. On the 30th ult. in Windsor Castle, aged 74, Richard, O'Meara, Esq., one of his Majesty's Military Poor Knights, and formerly a Captain in the 49th Regiment, in which be served with distinguished honour and gallantry at lor's Hill, Brandywine, German Town, and must of the memorable actions during the Revolutionary war in America; subsequently in the West Indies, under Sir W. Meadowes, when opposed to the Marquis de Beaulieu at St. Lucie, &c. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY MURDO YOUNG, AT TILE SUN OFFICE ; 112, S -TRA ND, LONDON, • in • Nin 7 inst. C LI6 and wisp t 3 b >;nppee gal •Chei me siv TM! ' Mt) LOIr TB Fru , Publ 11E1 • • . 1 the N attach requee 'l l At tb sot twl with %bow Fui by let tors, tinghi Pri had a Inns, NO -___ Rol d i Sill Mrs WI C' FL and g quirod 4 ftter , it i s n torn*, for tho 72. 6d Stp e