The Sun. — London, England, 1822-06-21 00:00:00

it wish to have any one who spoke of them in such a manner for their advocate. He believed the Gentry of Scotland to be as capable of forming an impartial and enlightened judg ment upon any question relating to their country as any set of men in the world. He did not wish to pledge him self for or against the introduction of peremptory chal lenge, if it could be introduced with the assent of t he Jud g es. With respect to the use of ballot, he bad strong objections to In the present disposition to abuse the Judges of England, :aid still more grossly to calumniate the Judges of Scotland, the introduction of ballot would be construed into a censure upon them. The allowance of peremptory challenge 'would Pear po such construction. He defended the conduct of 'Lord ,?fle:idowbank in the unhappy affair which had been alluded to, os be thought, without having any application to the present sitiestion. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman had accused them of using opprobrious expressions, and these appeared to be tke expressions " theory and philosophy." He thought it a fair line of argument to describe propositions as being theoretical, when they were not even said by their pro ;sneers to he called for by any practical grievance. But how eid his` Hari. and Learned Friend follow up his deprecation of these opprobrious expressions ? Why, by telling thou that they were enemies to reason and common sense. Now this ap peared to him to be much more opprobrious than the language of which his Hon. and Learned Friend had complained. He certainly felt it to be opprobrious, because he held that they were the Mends of reason and common sense. The proposal for introducing ballotting for juries were theoretical, and if it would be a al good, why was it not to be given to practical England also ? These innovations upon the system of juris prudence in Scotland were not wished for by the Scotch -people, but they were to be forced down' their throats as a boon. And there was no saying where they were to stop. —A new champion in the same cause had now sprung up in the Honourable Member for the City of Durham.._. (Hear ! from Mr. M. A. Taylor.)—That Hon. Member meant to abolish the Public Prosecutor in. Scotland, and substitute the system of English Grand juries. If these alterations were desired by the Scotch people, let them petition and declare their wishes before the House proceeded in the course recommended. The Noble Lord continued to argue at some length in support of the objections of the Lord Advocate, and expressed his re gret that the benches of the House were not better attended upon a subject of so much importance. He contended that a prisoner, by the law of Scotland, possessed many advantages which were denied to him by the English laws ; and that there were no practical grievances in the one which demanded the substitution' of the other. Mr. H. TWISS addressed the House in favour of granting the right of peremptory challenge in Scotland. He contended that without that nght all the advantages which a prisoner was supposed to have, were of no advantage to him at all. It was of no service to him that he should have Counsel to plead his 'cause, if those to whom he pleaded should be prejudiced against him. It ' was nothing to his benefit to know the names of his, Jurors beforehand, if he had not the power to challenge any whom he considered to be his enemies. On the contrary, it was the greatest disservice to his defence, that he should have such information ; forit would only serve to make him despair of obtaining a fair trial or an impartial verdict. The fact was, therefore, that it could only be by the interposition of this part of the Bill that such indulgences would be really advan tageous to the prisoner. With regard to that part. which re lated to the balloting for Juries, he confessed he had not made up his mind upon the point, and the arguments which he had heard against it were undoubtedly strong, and had made con siderable impression upon his mind. The spirit of our laws recognized two operattve powers in the administration of jus tice. That of the Judge, and also that of the Jury. But where the Jury was appointed by the Judge, without thenght of-challenge being allowed to the prisoner, he was in point of fact tried by the Judge alone. With this view he should vote for the second reading of the Bill, although by doing so he must differ from those whose opinions he generally considered to be authority, and which he always respected. Mr. Secretary PEEL wished to say a few words as to the ftature of the question before the House. The Bill appeared to contemplate two objects; one to change the method of se lecting Juries in Scotland, the other to give the prisoner a right of peremptory challenge. He had considerable doubts ac to the expediency of the first, but those doubts confirmed him in giving his support to the second proposition. lie thought if the power were left with the Judge, there would be no objection to it, and upon that principle he did not feel warranted in resisting the second reading of the Bill. In the Committee it would be competent for those who thought with him that the system of selecting juries ought to remain, to op pose the proposition for altering it, and to grant the right of peremptory challenge. His objections to an alteration of the system of selecting juries were briefly these. Where the number of persons eligible to serve as jurors was to be limited, it was better not to trust to the operation of chance, as by ballot, in order to avoid the possibility, of allowing party to interfere with the administration of justice. The .Jude would be the most likely person to select an impartial jury, and it was therefore much better to leave the selection in his hands, unless the body from which it was made should be very considerably extended. After a few words from Mr. H. DRUMMOND, the second reading was carried without a division. The Bill was accordingly read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday next. PROTECTING DUTIES ON BUTTER. Sir N. COLTHURST rose to move that the House should go into a Committee upon the Butter Trade Acts. His object 'was to increase the existing duties on foreign butter. In 1816 an import duty of twenty shillings per hundred had 'been laid on upon all foreign butter imported in British vessels, and of twenty-five shillings per hundred upon such as should be im ported in foreign vessels. The employment of British vessels hod reduced the protecting duty to twenty shillings, and the Dutch had made it still lower, by since taking off certain ex port duties, which previously existed. In fact, the quantity of Dutch butter imported last year had increased about double, while the value of the Irish imports had decreased in a cor responding proportion. The price which used to be 80 or 90s. was now no more than 40 or, 50s. ; and that for a mere nominal price, for there was no longer any demand in the market. He did not mean to try this as an Irish question, but as one which affected English agriculture as well as that of Ireland. It had likewise an equally bad effect upon the manufacturing interest by reducing the means of consumption. He meant to propose -en the Committee an increase of the duty upon foreign butter of 10s. per hundred. He concluded by moving " That the . House do resolve itself into a Committee upon the 56th of George 111. for regulating the importations upon foreign lunch"' Mr. H. GURNEY said that Ireland had been always fa voured in the remission of taxes, and he saw no reason why the people of England should have to pay a tax upon Dutch butter, In order to keep up the exorbitant rents in Ireland. Mr. ROBINSON said, although he meant to oppose the - motion, et would not be upon the ground stated by the last 'Speaker. It was only because he did not think that circum stances warranted them in carrying the protection to the butter trade of Ireland farther than it went at present. The fact was, that when the existing duties were laid on, they formed only a proportion of 25 per cent. upon the value of the article. But now, in consequence of the great fall in prices, the duties ope rated a protection of 50 per cent. If the Irish , butter-trade . would not stand with such protections, he did not know to what -extent they must go to protect it. The importations would eliew, that in the last year there had been a greater consumption of Irish butter than in any preceding one. He had said upon a former occasion, that if we prohibited foreign countries from 'bringing their most plentiful produce to us, they could not be expected to take any thing from us. Upon these grounds he should oppose the motion. Sir JOHN NEWPORT denied that Ireland had experi -encecl so much advantage as England in the remission of taxes. lie :supported the motion. Mr. RICARDO said, that instead of the proposition for in .creasing these duties, he had hoped to see one for getting rid . of them altogether. It was the fashion for all sorts of producers coming there day after day —the _ producer of tallow asking for protecting duties; .the West India trader, the producer of sugar, asking for protection, and high prices, when we could get sugar for low prices ; and then the Shipping interest came for piotection ; but amidst all this, they never heard a word about the poor consumer, who was indeed the only proper ob ject of their attention. He then read a passage from Adam Smith, enforcing the point which he had laid down. The mo tion was founded on a Petition from Dublin, -which was full of false allegations. It stated that the importations of Irish but ter had decreased. Now, he would shew the House how this fact was borne out by the Return of the quantity of hundreds weight imported in the separate years : In 1816 - - 320,796 1817 - - 280,000 1818 - - - 305,000 1819 353,000 182 D 430,000 1821 - - 457,000 1822 - 413,000 . - 'lle thought the proposition ought to be rejected by the House. Mr. S. RICK staid, that the principles of- his Hon. Friend could not be applied to the country under its load of taxation act!. debt. Although such a quantity of butter had been im ported, it was a well known fact that it remained in the mer chants' hands and was now unsaleable. All that they asked was a just and adequate protection. Mr. WILSON was glad the question was not confined to Ireland. In respect to the views of Adam Smith, the argu ment might he good, but it did not apply to the country suf fering under taxation. The importation of Irish butter this year would have been greater had it not - been understood that a ;fleecy duty was to be laid on foreign butter. The Dutch had. taken advantage of the market, and also had brought better but ter for sale than the Irish butter. He opposed the motion. Mr. WESTERN considered the opinion of . Adam Smith in applicable to the present time. It was owing to taxation that England was not able to enter into competition with foreigners. Nothing was so desirable as a free trade whereverffigre was a commercial interest ; but the British produce w44hliged to compete with the subjects of countries who were -not pressed down by taxation. Ile expressed his astonishment at seeing Gentlemen carried away by principles which led them to prefer the, interests of foreign countries. -- Mr. HUSKISSON said, he was quite surprised at the speech of the Hon. Member for Essex, who had stated what the - import of butter was, when the country was struggling un der the blockade system, and the Milan Decrees. He wished the Hon. Member would look at the taxation of Holland and Ire land; Holland was the most taxed country in Europe—there was a tax on mulch cows. He was satisfied there was much distress in Ireland, - and he should be disposed to support the motion if he thought it would do good for Ireland, but he was convinced it would not. The effect would be, not to increase the consumption, but raise the price of a bad article, and com pel the public to find a substitute. All the restrictive laws applicable to manufactures had done no good. It had been said, if butter were not protected, Ireland would grow corn instead of butter, and overwhelm the markets of England. He wished the Irish Gentlemen to grow that which was most ad vantageous. If they were to adopt the proposal before the House, other countries would increase those restraints under which they had already placed the commerce of this country. Mr. WESTERN explained. Mr. HUTCHINSON said, the principles the Right Hon. Gentleman stated that night differed from the prin \ cipl,s upon which the Right Hon. Gentleman and the Government of the country had long acted. He did not wish to force the English consumer to pay more for Irish butter than foreign butter, but he did think the present was not the time to change systems and principles which had hitherto been useful to Ireland. Some change would be injurious to Ireland. That country had been ruined by the, union, and they required relief. Mr. MONCK considered taxation in this country the cause of agricultural distress. Land in the North of France would not let for 10s. per acre. In England they paid 125., and were so taxed that the occupier could not raise produce to pay the expende of cultivation. He could not consent to sacrifice the consumer to the interest of the grower. Mr. GRIFFITHS opposed the motion. Sir T. ACLAND said he should not have spoken on this subject; . hack he not considered himself bound to make a few observations in behalf of a number of persons from whom he had presented Petitions. He alluded to the Dairy Farmers. If foreign butter were allowed to come into the market without paying duty, the Dairy Farmers would be ruined., Mr. DAVENPORT supported the motion. Mr. FITZGERALD did not wish to treat this as an Irish question. Concurring as he did in the statement of his Right Hon. Friend, the President 'of the Board of Controul, he was obliged to consider the motion at that time inexpedient. Sir N. COLTHURST left the motion to be disposed of by the House. The question was then put, and negatived without a division. The House then resumed, and the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow. THE SMALL BANKS' NOTES BILL. The House resolved itself into a Committee on the above Bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER proposed a resolution, for extending the power of the Bank of England to issue small notes, beyond the time allowed by the existing laws. Mr. RICARDO asked, whether the Bank of England would be empowered to issue one-poUnd notes, and whether the coun try banks would be compelled to pay in specie? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that the Bank of England might issue one-pound notes, if the Di rectors should think fit, and that the country banks would be compelled to pay in Bank of England one-pound notes, con vertible on demand into specie. Mr. H. GURNEY wished to know to what period the ope ration of the Bill, upon which the Chancellor of the Exchequer intended to found his resolution, would extend ? The.CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, the Bill would expire with the Bank Charter. , The House resumed, the report was brought up, and a Bill to be founded upon it was ordered to be brought in. The Orders of the Day were disposed of, and the House ad journed at HALF-PAST ONE o'CLocr. • MAJORITY AND MINORITY FOR AND AGAINST SIR JOHN NEWPORT'S MOT lON , ON THE TITHE SYSTEM OF IRELAND. . MAJORITY Antrobus, G. C. . Dawkins, H. Ommaney, Sir F. Apsley, Lord Doraville, Sir C. Plunkett, Rt. Hon. Arbuthnot,Rt Hon. Fane, V. W. C. ' Goulburn,FitHnH. Peel, Rt. Hon. R. Alexander, J. Gifford, , Sir R. Phipps, Hon. E. Brownlow, C. Hotham, Lord • PCnruddock, J. H. Blake, Robert Huskisson,Rt.flon. Palmerston, Lord Burgh, Sir U. W. - • Robinson,Rt II n.F. Bentmck, Lord F. Hill, . Sir G. Somerset, Lord G. Brogden, J. - Holmes, W. Sandon, Viscount Berestord, Lord G. Holford G. P. Ske ffi ngton, Rt Hn. Bernard, Lord Innes, John • T. 11. Brecknock, Lord Irving, John Sneid, N. Cholmley, Sir M. Jones, John Trench; Hon. F.W. Cockburn, Sir G. King, Sir J. D. • Vansittart,RtHn.N Campbell, Arch. Long, Rt. Hn. Sir C. Villiers, Rt. II n. .T. Copley, Sir J. S. Lowther, Hon. C. Wallace,Rt. lin. T. Cust, lion. Loraine, Lord Wynn, C. W. Cooper, R. B. Lindsay, Hon. H. Wilmot, R. Cheere, E. M. Martin, Sir T. B. Wilson, W. W. C. Chichester, Sir A. Martin, R. Wemyss„ J. Calvert, J. Maxwell, J. W. Warrender, Sir G. Dawson, G. R. Mundy, G. Ward, R. Drummond, H. IL 111'Naghten, E. A. Wyndham, W. W. Douglas, J. Nolan, M. TELLERS. Douglas, H. ' Nightingale, Sir M. Clarke, Sir G. Dodson, John Osborne, , Sir G. LUshington, S. MINORITY -......-- _ Bernal, R. Forde, M. — O'Grady, Standish Brougham, Henry Grattan, J.. Phillips, G. jun. Bennet, Hon. H. G. Graham, Sandford Price, R. • Browne, Dennis Glenorchy, Loid Parnell, Sir H. Browne, Dom. Grant, J. P. Power, R. Browne, J. Griffith, .T. W. Palmer, C. F. Benett, John Hume, Joseph Robinson, Sir G. Butterworth, J. Ilutehirthon, Hon. - Ricardo, D. Creevey, T. . - C. 11. Rowley, Sir W. Clifton, Viscount Hill, Lord Arthur Robarts, G. Colburne, N. 4. James, W. • Stewart, W. (Ty.) Cole, Sir C. Kingsborough, Ld Smith, S. Calvert, N. Lcycester, R. Smith, J. Calthorpe, Hon. F. Lamb, don. G. Townshend, Ld. C. Cuffe, J. - Latouche, IL Wood, Alderman Colthurst, Sir N. Lennard, T. B. Western, C. C. Duncannon, Visct. Monck, J. B. ' White, Luke Dundas, Hon. T. Martin, J. Williams, W. .Daly, J. Moberly, W. L. Whitbread, Sam. Ebrmgton, Visct. Moberly, J. Ellice, E. Newport, Rt. Hon. TELLERS. Fergusson, SirR.C. Sir John Calcraft, J. Fitzge.rald,LordW. Normanby, Visct. Rice,' 'l'. S. Fitzroy, Lord C. O'Brien, Sir E. _ FALSE REPORT OF PLAGUE.—A report having been very incautiously inserted in two of the Morning Papers that the plague had broken out in one of the Hospitals in the City, two Members of the Common Council waited upon the LORD MAYOR on the subject yesterday. His Lordship imme diately dispatched two of the Marshal's men to St. Thomas's and Bartholomew's Hospitals.—The answers to their inquiries were perfectly satisfactory, as it appeared from them that those establishments were never more free from infectious diseases and fevers in general. His Lordship and the 2 Common Coun cilmen joined in severely reprobating the conduct. of the per sons who had given publicity to such a rumour.---The report may perhaps have originated from the circumstance of a pas sage through St. Bartholomew's Hospital, which had long been made a public thoroughfare, having been closed recently- against the public, or all who had not business with the Hospital. FIRE IN KIRBY-STREET, HATTDN GARDEN.— About three o'clock yesterday morning a fire broke out in the house of 'Mr. HAND, 27, Kirby street. It was with the utmost difficulty that the family escaped, even in their night clothes. Mr. HAND saved his five children, in an almost miraculous manner, by forcing Ins way out at the top of the house, and then gained the leads of the adjoining houses. The other branches of the family also wonderfully escaped by making their way, through intense smoke, out at the front door. The whole of the furniture and other valuable property is reduced to a heap of ruins ; indeed nothing- remains of the house excepting the bare walls. From the activity cif the firemen the adjoining houses received very little injury.' FOREIGN 'INTELI.IGENCE. PARIS, JUNE 18.—The Mayoralty of Nantes has been informed that marches of troops to a considerable extent would take place through that city on the 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, and 19th instant, and the sth and 7th July. The Journal de Toulouse of the 12th instant,. contains the following new details respecting the movement of troops :—" The 3d battalion of the 24th regiment of .the line will arrive at Toulouse the _l9th July. This 'regiment, which has three battalions, replaces the 53d. The Ist battalion of the 17th light regiment arrived yesterday. It was the 2d battalion of this regiment which arrived on the 9th. The 4th company of workers has left Grenoble for Toulouse, where it will replace the 2d company, which proceeds to ,Bayoune." Letters from the Frontiers of Spain, of the 11th instant, say— " The Royalists who were in quarantine in La Cerdagne have all returned to Spain, where they have soon replaced the arms which the troops of the Cordon burnt. " Individuals from the frontiers state, that on the 4th the division of Misas, after .having sustained a very sanguinary combat in the environs of Massanet, entered the latter village, and imposed a contribution upon the Constitutionalists, which they refused to pay. In consequence of this refusal, the Au thorities were seized and detained as hostages. Two Royalist Officers are said to have been killed in the action. " It is stated that the inaabitants of the village of Junguera have barricaded all the avenues, to prevent being attacked by a division of 3,000 Royalists, who are in the environs. " It is said that there hes been an action at Pont de Moliers, half a league from Figueras, and another between Gironne and Barcelona ; but this wants confirmation, as well as the news circulating within :hese few days, that a Captain-Ge neral, of great reputation, is at the head of 15,000 Catalonian' Royalists. • " A letter from Tarragona states, that the Canary Islands have declared themselves independent. " A division of Constitutionalists went out a few days past, from Figueras, to attack the Royalists ; but receiving intelli gence that the latter were more numerous, they returned sud denly home. " Two merchants of Perpignan have received intelligence from Spain, that General Elio has been carried off from the prisons of Valencia. The army of the Faith can range itself under the orders of this General without fear that he will abuse its confidence."—( Quothiicizne. ) FRONTIERS OF ITALY, JUNE s.—Several pri vate letters state positively that a Congress will be assembled at Florence in the course of the autumn, consisting of Ministers of all the great Powers, and of the Italian Courts, in which will be 'discussed the different modifications to be given to the Governments of several Italian States. There is a talk of introducing limited Representzitive Constitutions. Letters from Milan state that the Emperor and Empress of Russia will urrive there about the end of August, and will remain there some weeks ; they then proceed to Florence. The Archduke Reynier, Viceroy of the Lombardo Venetian Kingdom, has consented to retain the Government ,till that period ; but he will return to Austria before winter. FRANKFORT, JUNEI3.—The report is revived that important negociations will be opened in the course of the Summer between the Cabinets of the great Powers, but it is doubted whether a Turkish Plenipotentiary will be admitted, or that Envoys from Greece are to be summoned. PETERSEURGII, MAY 30.—1 n consequence of communications made by the English Minister, of accounts of the 30th of April, brought by the courier of Lord Strangford, the Emperor held a Council,, and a circular note has been sent to the four Courts. The object of this note is, it is said, to develope the pacific inten tions of the Emperor, and to announce his consent to the sending a Russion Plenipoten tiary to negociate a definitive arrangement, in the event of the promises made to Lord Strang ford by the Divan being realised, and in the event of the Divan also consenting to send a Plenipotentiary. Kaminiech Podo'sky ,is stated to be the place proposed by our Court for these conferences ; and M. de Tatitscheff, on setting out for Vienna, is certainly the bearer of instruc tions for this negotiation, which will doubtless be confided, to him. lie is also believed to be furnished with the necessary instructions for an understanding with the Court of Vienna, in the event, now improbable, but still possible, of the Divan retracing its steps, and not realizing, the hopes of pacification to which it has given rise. M. de Tatitscheff appears to be in the highest favour. Madame de Tatitscheff, a Pole by birth, has been appointed, a Lady of St. Catherine. The health of M. de Strogonoff is', it is said, altered : for some time he has appeared less at Court or in public. It is believed sthe Congress will not be opened till the Ist August. HERMANSTADT, MAY 29.—The evacuation of Moldavia and Wallachia is not yet finished.— The troops which left Bucharest were only Asiatics, and it • is stated that they are gone to reinforce the Garrison of Braila. The Ottoman 'Garrison of Bucharest were there the day before yesterday ; it was even said at Jassy that fresh troops would arrive to replace, the Asiatics. A letter from Krajova, of the 25th, states that the Asiatic troops who quitted that town had re turned with reinforcements, that they had taken military quarters by force, and that they had declared that they would not depart till they had come to blows with the Russians. The Turks have confirmed to the Jews for a year all the property of the Churches, the Con vents, the Emigrant I3oyards, &c. It is said that diplomatic intrigues multiply at Constantinople, in consequence of the increasing weakness of the Government. The Emperor of Russia is gone to Vilna, ac companied by the Count Capo d'lstria, which is a proof that the latter has not yet received his dismission, as had been reported. Ills Im perial Majesty will return to St. Petersburgh, the 15th June, and there is no hope of his seeing the Army of the South. This intelligence has excited a great sensation amongst the troops. SCUAFFIIAUSEN, JU NE 7.—The Court of Baden has com municated to the Confederation the measures already adopted, in part by way of reprisal, against France, on account of its ri gorous prohibitory system. The question, whether similar measures would be advantageous to Switzerland will be dis cussed in the next Diet. VIENNA, JUNE E. —Pulpit Funds.—June 5. Metalliques, 774 ; Bank Shares, 728.—June 7.. Metalliques, 73 9-16ths ; Bank Shares, 744 4-stl}s. • COPENHAGEN', JUNE 11.—His Majesty was yesterday in vested with the Order of the Garter by Mr. Foster, the British Minister to this Court, and Sir George Nayler. BRUSSELS, JUNE 17.----The Court of Assizes at I'reves, by a sentence delivered on the 7th inst., has declared M. P. A. Fonck, merchant of Cologne, guilty of the murder committed . in his cellar, on the person of IV. Coenan, in the night of the 9th of November, 1816, and has con demned him to death.—A new. division of emi grants, chiefly from the countries on the Maine, set, out for Frankfort , on the 4th inst. fqr Hol land, where they will embark for_l3razil. They amount to 120 persons of both sexes, who take with them their whole property. HAGUE, JUNE 15. SECOND CHAMBER OF THE STATES-CENEItAL. A Royal Mesiage was read, accompanying a project of law relative to the means of entirely filling up the deficiency in the revenue, and of providing for all urgent wants'of the public Trea sury. The following are extracts from his Ma jesty's Message:— " High and Mighty Lords,—Your High Mightinesses have requested us to reconsider the proposal addressed to your As sembly by us on the 30th of January last, for the purpose of providing for the arrears, and of meeting divers extraordinary expences. _ _ " As this proposal, the result of two years' mature delibera tion, tended not only to realize those views without any new burden to the nation, but was to ensure to it great advantages, we were persuaded, and are so still, that it would have fulfilled this object; and we shall always feel great satisfaction that this proposal will be enrolled among the acts of our reign, as a durable testimony of our solicitude for the interest and welfare of our subjects : _ " Your - high Mightinesses will therefore be easily persuaded that we have learned with the most lively regret the result of your deliberations on this proposal, which causes a great part of those flattering hopes to vanish, which we bad conceived re specting the financial situation of the kingdom, and which we communicated to your Assembly in our message of the 28th of May last." His Majesty then expresses his regret that he is obliged to substitute onerous measures for such as would have been ad vantageous ; and that to meet expences which are left unpro vided for, he finds it necessary to add a capital sum of 57,500,000 florins to the active debt, which will produce in the budget a new annual burden of 1,725,000 florins. It is extremely pain ful to his Majesty to propose such. measures after the hopes which he cherished but a few days ago ; but he has no other alternative. His Majesty will, however, continue his exer dons fox the general welfare ; and, with the aid of the States, hopes to hasten the period when the public burdens may be diminished. CITY, THORSDAy EVENING. Consols for the July account opened this morning at soi and were dull at this price, until the resolution of the Bank of England to discount, at 4 per cent. bills not having longer than 96 days to run, was made public, when they advanced to fill j, at which price they closed. If the commerce of the empire were in a healthy state, the reduction of the interest of money would be favourable to it, in so far as it would enable the productive classes to dispose of their commodities at a proportionate Toil value ; but when the great temptation of high interest in the Foreign Funds is considered, the propriety of this resolution of the Court of Directors becomes extremely questionable. That it will be a strong inducement for the monied interest to invest their property in Foreign Funds is undeniable, and that capital so invested will ever find its way back again into the proprie tors' pockets is in an equal degree doubtful. That it will also enable the Ministers to enhance the value of the National Debt at the expence of other interests, is not the smallest of its de merits. That the reduction of interest must be beneficial to needy men, whether commercial or agricultural, none can deny, but permission to purchase money at any rate of interest which the borrower could afford to give, would be much in favour of en terprise and talent, not backed with capital sufficient for the accomplishment of their views. It must not be objected that this would encourage speculation, for generally speculation is productive of high benefit, and sometimes a clear and com prehensive mind is a better security to the lender than what may appear more tangible property. By a repeal of the Usury Laws, many expectants of future fortune would be enabled to obtain a temporary loan of money on equitable terms. By the present system they are obliged to apply to the worst characters to have their immediate wants supplied. Letters have been received from Chumpee, dated the 19th February, which contain the pleasing news that the dispute with the Chinese has been accommodated, not by the sacrifice of blood, but by a more persuasive argument—money. An American Chinaman arrived off the Start, reports that the sum paid is more than half a million of dollars, which, with the de murage for the delay of thirteen Indiamen, renders the day's sport of the boat's crew of his Majesty's ship, Topaze, tolerably expensive to the Hon. Company. The chop was hourly expected, to enable the ships to, load their cargoes; and the Kent was to sail lon the 24th February, with farther particulars. The debateat the India house yesterday throws much light on the distressed state of British commerce. The bad effects of monopoly, and the equally destructive practice of restrictive and protecting duties to the general interest, are fully developed. The charter, or what in the House of Commons would be called the vested rights, of the East India Company, prevents the English merchant from engaging in the East Indian trade, unless he has capital suffi cient to ht out and load a vessel of 350 tons burthen—few being disposed to send an adventure in what is called a general ship. An American, however, is permitted to do what is denied to the English. It is not long since an American schooner, of 84 tons, loaded a very valuable cargo at an outport, cleared out for New York, .an 6 sailed direct to Calcutta. This is in fa vour certainly of British commerce,—but why should an Eng lish vessel be denied the same privilege ? The Court of Pro prietors will not concede this privilege, however, until the duty on East India sugar be equalized with West India production. It is only just, both to the consumers at home, and to the East Indian producer, that the duty should be equalized ; but this cannot be done without totally ruining the West In dian, who cannot grow sugar so cheap as the East Indians can. The British Legislature very properly abolished the African Slave trade ; hut the West Indian planter has suffered most severely in his property by Lord LONDONDERRY, in his foreign treaties, not compelling the other nations of Europe to do the same thing. The West India proprietor is utterly un able to meet in the Europeans' markets the produce of the Por tuguese, French, Spanish, Dutch, and other colonies, whilst they are permitted to carry on the African .Slave Trade, and the British colonies are deprived of that advantage.— British Plantation Sugar costs much more to produce it than that of every other nation in Europe ; and after it arrives in England it finds additional opposition from the restriction of the European Governments, which, seven years ago, England saved from destruction. Good Jamaica Scale Sugar_ can be got under 82s. and the Refiner cannot work to advantage with but a still greater reduction in the value. Russia will admit no article manufactured in England without the payment of almost prohibitory duties, and many . other articles of Manu facture, highly valuable to Great Britain, are totally excluded. There is not much doing in Foreign Funds. The Paris Rentes here are 91. 50. 75. Prussian Bonds are quoted still at 86 ; Co lUmbian Old Bonds are 1014, and the New Sixes, 831, and the Scrip, 844. The Spanish are rather lower, the Old, ' 614 624 • and the IN ew, 614 624. Danish are dearer, being rated 864 87. Neapolitan, 734. Russian Metallic, 774, and the New Loan extremely dull, at 8.2 i 83. There is at present a prejudice both against Austrian an Russian Securities. American Bank Shares are 22 ; and the 5 per cent Loan 'of 1821, 95i. The Chili New Loan is not brisk, at 794 a 804. A forgery in the English Funds has been detected, to the amount of 79001. The person's name is and he is probably by this time out of the reach of justice, the transaction having been accomplished six weeks ago. -.:( liforning Chronicle.) ROYAL OBSERVATORY.—On Saturday, June 15, the President and Council; and Visitors of the Royal Ob servatory, held their Annual Visitation of that useful Public Establishment at Greenwich, and after inspecting the magni ficent instruments.l.‘laced under the direction of the Astronomer Royal, dined together at the Crown and Sceptre. . The Presi dent of the Royal Society, Sir H. DAVY, was in the Chair. There were present -His Royal Highness the Prince of Den mark, the Danish Minister, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lords Melville, Darnley, and Aberdeen, Sir George Clark, Bart., Sir Everard Holue, Bart., Drs. Wollaston, Young, and Mar cot, Messrs. Hatchett, Herschell, Brande, Bailey, and a large party amounting to nearly sixty persons, consisting of the most distinguished men of science in the country, and many eminent literary character's. The day passed in the most agreeable and harmonious manner, and his Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark entered ,Cully into the spirit of the Meeting. Among the toasts given by the President, and drank with much en thusiasm, were -L.' The King, the Patron of the Royal So ciety."—" His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark."— " Lord Melville, and the Admiralty."—" The Astronomer Royal, Sir William Herschell,"—and " The President, and the Royal Society," given by his Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. The Committee at the City of London Ta vern, who have so long and so laudably been employed in the humane and noble work of re lieving the distresses of the famishing peasantry of Ireland, have just published the following most creditable and interesting Report : " City of London Tavern, June 20, 1822• " The Committ6 appointed by the Public Meeting sudden ly assembled on the first intimation of the great and accumula7 ting distress of the Peasantry of Ireland, have now been inac tivity about six weeks. Not a day has passed but something has been done:towards fulfilling the duties which the Commi t ' tee has undertaken. " The distress which induced the convening of the first Ge neral Meeting was such as to convince it that the most psomP t , and decisive measures were imperiously required; and the ac counts then made known of the distress prevailing amongst the Peasantry of Ireland have been more than amply confirmed' by immediate correspondence with gentlemen resident in places surrounded by the most fearful poverty and privation., " The benevolence of all classes of the United Kingdom has placed a considerable sum at tha disposal of the Committee, and the greatest diligence and attention have been used to dis tribute with the utmost advantage the means with which the Committee has been intrusted ; and with thankfulness they acknowledge the liberality of the Public in pouring in the funds which have been received. These they regard as a sacred trust, one of such importance that their anxiety has become increasingly painful, so high does the excitement rise correctly to acquit themselves of the task they have undertaken. " It is well known that potatoes constitute the chief OP' port of the peasantry of Ireland. The Committee, .therefore, have promptly dispatched potatoes in large quantities, fo r seed, for the next year's food. The sum of 61,3001. being abo ut two-thirds of 92,3631. 1133. Id., the whole amount of contribu tions received, has been sent in upwards of 330 remittances , t 9 different districts of Ireland, in which distress is most preva lent. To enable the Ministers of Religion to exercise tha t beneficence which so becomes the religion they profess, es further sum of 3,4001. has been placed at the disposal of the Bishops, both Protestant and Catholic—and in all places to which assistance has been sent to prevent absolute starvation, the Protestant Clergy and the Catholic Priest have united wi th the resident Gentlemen to form Local Committees. But tlic months of July and August will, they doubt not, present seal mulated horrors, and call for very large additional supplies''' . - 4 ‘ The months of July and August may be said to assail th e Committee with fearful apprehension ;—willingly would thel make reserve for these months, which will, it is expected, re sound with appalling cries from the dying peasantry of Ire land. This, however, in theipresent state of the funds, is i m possible, for the pressing solicitations still received by ev er y post claim instant attention and daily remittances. " On the other hand the Committee feels that it may CO °. dently rely on the results which will inevitably be produced by the King's Letter,' graciously issued to the Clergy of a re t t Britain, to urge them to plead with, and to collect from, th e ' respective Congregations,, donations to their fellow -subjects m the most abject state of poverty and distress. The Com mittee look up to Him, in whose hands are the hearts of all men, that he will be pleased to incline them to assist the needy in their extremity. They cannot doubt the exertions which wil l be made when the sufferings of Ireland shall be more known ; fully known they can scarcely be. The Committee have W,' confidence in the success of this plea, when urged by the 1 1: nisters of Religion of whatever denomination ; and they 1 e,5; with confidence, on the repetition of that generosity anion heretofore rescued a considerable part of the German populanue from the ruinous effects of desolating war. " In this view they present to the Public some extracts °f letters addressed to the Committee from persons of re9ect.s:, bility, and which are but specimens of a multitude which Committee are daily receiving. [Here follow extracts of the heart-rending c ommunicatict the Committee have received, and to which i m mediate att e ' tion has been paid by them, from the several places and per sons. l The Report concludes thus : " Having thus extracted from the correspondence e en a of the relations with which the Committee are daily oppres‘_save and which they have to compare, and between which they also to decide for the equitable distribution of the relief w'! 1 ,„„ ) they have (they wish they could say the unmixed gratificativii to divide among the miserable, they are compelled strenuon_so to urge upon the Ministers of Religion—upon all congregat, l _ c os e assembled for the worship of the Most High Gon—upon to fa, whom HE has blessed with the means—that they be libe t be . prompt, solicitous with others, now, while yet life exists, to the stow that which in a short time it-will be too late to give for rescue of the unhappy sufferers from death "Some benevolent Ladies of Distinction have formed a plane for supplying the peasantry of Ireland with articles of CloteT7!, and for co-operating with and exciting similar benevolent at tions in that country. Such is their deplorable condition, '1;/,- the Committee have reason to believe numbers of those , z fortunate creatures have been obliged to sell their c10t11,7 to provide food, and that they will be destitute of nec e e 3 clothing in the ensuing winter. This mode of relief has cop suggested to the Committee, and they very earnestly rT ies of mend it to the consideration and good feelings of the Lad s the United Kingdom. do ns' " Other Ladies have become the receivers of the smallen- Lions of the circle in which they reside, and by attention t r c e f a . courage the humble, yet warm, benevolence of the iii. c .„ ict ird voured, though still humble, classes of society—always o ' o of to do good according to their ability—have been the luct.ol s 'collecting sums which in the aggregate have aided the riat; of the Committee, and gratified it with the means of r eu '; tbe more decisive benefit to the sadly suffering Peasantry 0 Sister Kingdom." FOR THE SUN. 1 i Mn. EDITOR—As you (and several of th e ,,s bend Editors) were so good as to give pubhcity to my 511 ' re dons, announced in " The Gleaner," several months slq e 'w to commending "Subscriptions from the mite of the Niqu° ,0-. the larger donation of the Prince and Princess;" and als°.ra be other suggestion of mine " that Charity Sermons showdeo preached in every Church and Chapel, of every religiolls, a ni mination, thoughout the United Kingdom," (and wh ir ' go at proud to observe has been so highly approved of by hi s ri gil Gracious Majesty, and has been by his Majesty so s tir pea' for the purpose of saving the unfo r tunate e to santry of Ireland from famine and pestilence, allow T a os, suggest, through the medium of your Paper, t w o other 1 , the which if you (and the other liberal Editors) ' will do W or se great favour to insert, will prove very productive, an d Of c e f t he highly beneficial, and be the means al saving thousaria s 4po" lives of our fellow-creatures.—First, That every indiviau- tiles' sessing humanity, and grateful to the Almighty for the o g, sings of health and affluence, visiting Hyde Park and k e e % vo' ton Gardens on Sundays, during the present season, s", he re luntarily contribute whatever sum they please towards pea' lief of their fellow-creatures—the suffcring and starvifg oel santry of Ireland—and for the purpose of collecting th with the greater facility, that four respectable an d resP°,l, gti persons shall each have a box at the different gates, vl w ith aperture at the top, the keys of which shall be depositc h the the Acting Society for the Relief of the Irish," or: / /a l t ion Secretary, J. C. MICHELL, Esq. to whom the Irish I, . be se' so much indebted for his unceasing exertions.—And tbe cond idea is, That every Man Servant through°. set United Kingdom (following the laudable expoP i d e t hat „ him by his Master) shall contribute one shilling; 31:01e of every female servant, (following the praise-worthYcx sata her Mistress) shall contribute sixpence--and though may appear, and is in reality, of no consideratio n to sill e / feel when collected, the amount will be considerable, 111'1i:state convinced, when servants are informed of ,the depl of Ireland—and reflect on the many comforts which they ro w 'bide the he ir selves enjoy . , that they will maSt willingly contri o f t towards saving from famine • and pestilence, thousands fellow-creatures ! I have the honour to be, your most obedient', 144, Jerrnyn-street, St. James's, HUGH Dollib tbera. 20th June, 1822.