The Express.
London, England, 1851-04-24 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 24, 1851.

crease of their own power to urge on the contest, but for
very different causes.
The want of political pretexts was not the only impedi-
ment to civil wars in Spain, for there existed more powerful I
causes why tha dams of Cavil discord did not break out in I
the heart of our country.
The adventurous portion of the community, ever ready to
risk life for gain of property, had set out from Spain in
quest of riches. America, Flanders, and Italy were objects
of covetousness to these men. A desire to live with greater
liberty, and an insatiable thirst for gold, had made them
ab radon their houses and families. Many of those persons,
therefore, who, in rebellions, are ready to listen to the voice
of the conspirators, and to follow, sword in hand, the blind
adherents of the ambitious and the turbulent, found them
selves absent from Spain. For this reason, also, there was
a failure of interior disturbances and civil wars in Castile.
Besides this, the low people in Spain bad never readily
lent their ears to new doctrines—they bad never been
friendly to inquiry in matters of religion—never allowed
themselves to be dragged away by opinions contrary to those
which, in the years of childhood, they had learned from the
mouths of their parents or superiors. It was all these things
put together which operated as an impediment to civil dis-
sensions in Spain, and not Philip 11, with the holy office at
his disposal.
It is a want of knowledge of the sixteenth century, to
persuade one's self that with seventy or eighty examples of
punishment made by the inquisitors on the persons of a few
protestants, the interior peace of our country was secured.
If political pretexts, if adventurers, if attachment to new
religious opinions had not been wanting in Spain, the flame
of civil war would have blared in the heart of those king-
doms, in spite of Philip and the Holy Office, in the same
way that, in !spite of the intolerance of that monarch, and
the executions and burning.; of that barbarous tribunal, the
Flemings rebelled against oppression, and maintained their
doctrines by force of arms.
Much praise is given to Philip by writers who knew nei-
ther the true religious character nor the political state of
Spain in the sixteenth century, under a belief that this king
saved us from the horrors and destructions of civil wars.
Spain, without civil wars and with the religious unity
imposed by Philip 11. towards the seventeenth century, was
in as great a state of poverty and ruin as it was in igno-
rance, and far behind other nations in arts and sciences.
But the Same states in which there may have been such
depravity, such destruction, and such calamities, in a short
time become again flourishing and peaceful, eminent in
science and prosperous in commerce and agriculture, the
true source and, basis of the vigour and harmony of
nations.

It will be seen that there is more meant here than
the author chooses to express ; perhaps, also, more
said in another direction than he strictly meant. But
it is only under such conditions, and with such reser-
vations, that the public, for whom he wrote,
will consent to be instructed at all. It is
rather a delicate task, teaching a people to see, who
for three centuries have taken a pride in being blind.
No people on earth are so proud as the Spanish ; and
there arc few whom the knowledge of history con-
tains so much to mortify and gainsay. For them the
profound and conscientious study of history implies
nothing less than a thorough revolution in many of
the most striking characteristics of their social life
and national policy. And though it is most desir-
able that the revolution should take place, there can
be no question that the process will be a most pro-
tracted and painful one.
Senor de Castro, at all events, does not want
courage to deal with this stubborn people. His com-
parison of Philip 11. with Nero, is a remarkable in-
stance of plain speaking, when we look et the public
for whom he wntes. It will be found at pages 120
to 125, and is reproduced in several other parts of the
volume. Here and in many other places, a stranger
would say that it is not, Philip 11. alone, but the
genius and policy of the Spanish people, that are
denounced. l'hilip is not, like his consort Mary, a
solitary example of bigotted cruelty, foreign to the
genius of the country which she ruled. He had a
thousand predecessors and a thousand imitators. lie
was almost a sort of demagogue in his way ; and
flattered the blindness and ignorance of his people ;
courting them with autos des fe, instead of big
speeches or agrarian laws. Ile was an unamiable
man, no doubt, and reproduced with intensity the
dark side of the national character. But scarce
Cromwell or Mirabeau embodied more forcibly the
genius of their time and country. We could pro-
duce a hundred proofs of this. 'But one must suf-
fice. Philip is best known, and most abhorred—he
is, so to speak, popularly gibbetted in literature—for
his cruelty to Ins son. Ilut, taking the worst ver-
sion of die story, how clement does he not appear'
compared to the following instance of what Spanish
fathers could become:
To such an extreme did the ferocity of some catholic.
arrive in the de-truetion of Lutherans that one gentleman
of Valladolid in 1581 denounced to the holy office his own
two daughters as professors of the reformed religion. De-
sirous of converting them to catholicism, he contrived,
through the great confidence the inquisitors hail in his
blindness, that both these young creatures should be re-
moved from the dungeons of the inquisition to the paternal ,
roof. There the fanatical father, assisted by various of;
the clergy and friars, attempted to turn away the minds!
of his daughters (ruin what he believed to he erroneous
principles. Both, however, were urunoveable in the true
protestant faith, and his efforts were abortive.
Burning with rage to see that his entreaties were in vain.
as well as his tlireatenings and persecutions, he took them
back to the inquisition, and informed the judges that both
of them still defended reform with the greatest pertinacity.'
In fine, on the solicitation of their father, both of these un- '
happy women were condemned to be burnt. This pompous
old man, ii.dignant that his blood should be stained by Lu-
theran principles, and overcome by a fanatical
monomania, went to a certain forest on his own
estate in search of branches front some of the
largest trees, and trunks of smaller ones, and cut them
into suitable pieces, in order to kindle the flames which
were to devour the bodies of his own children. This bar-
barous fellow, worthy to have been born among cannibals,
then returned to Valladolid with these spoils from his
woods, and presented them to the holy Office. The in-
quisitors praised his greatness of mind, and set him forth,
to the patricians and to the pleheians,as an example worthy
the imitation of all who would increase and serve that
faith which they imagined they were defending by the
flames.
But the man was not even satisfied with having cut the
wood ; for, probably incited by the applause of his friends
both secular and ecclesiastic, and with a view of spreading
greater consternation through Valladolid, he actually peti-
tioned to be the niurderer of his own flesh and blood.
After becoming his own enemy and throwing his daugh-
ters into the loathsome cells of the Inquisition, nay, bringing
his own wood to construct the burning pile, 1w asked per-
mission of the inquisitors to set light, with his own hand,
in a public auto-do-1;c to that same heap which was to re-
duce to ashes the delicate frames of these his unhappy girls,
unhappier still in having known such a father.
The inquisitors who saw in this barbarous wretch a model
of slaves, received most graciously his petition; and in
order to tpc exaltation of the catholic faith, proclaimed with
cymbals and trumpets. not only the inhuman demand, but
their permission to comply with it.
The two unfortunate girls accordingly perished at Valla-
dolid in 1181.
This, perhaps, exceeds in horror anything recorded
in history. One would almost refuse belief to it;
but the authority for the fact is one of the noblest
and purest of the Spanish reformers, Cyprian de
Valera, translator of the Bible into his native tongue,
long a resident in this country, and subsequently at
Geneva and Amsterdam.
Altogether, this is a most valuable and interesting
work ; and did our space permit, we could greatly
extend our extracts from it, with much gratification
to our renders and ourselves. Whoever has a
copy of " Fox's Martyrs" ought by all means to
procure this volume as a supplement to it.

TELEGRAPH BETWEEN MIRAMICIII AND TUE BEND!
or Pwricootae.—Tke whole :of the stock for the construc-
tion of this line has been subscribed, and the company have
advertised for the supplying of the poets.
EXTRAORDINARY CONTEST.—A few evenings ago,
the persons employed in Mr. William Sinclair's extensive
grain gores, at Sugar Island, in this town (Newry), were.
alarmed by the furious barking of dogs and a great noise,
proceeding from the lower end of the yard. Oa hurrying
to the spot with lights, an extraordinary scene presented it-
self to their view. Thousands of rats were gathered to-
gether, on and about a cart, in the bottom of which the
tings of some meal bags were lying; and a furious
battle was raging between the rats, on the one part, and
two little terrier dogs, belonging to Mr. Sinclair, on the
eiher. Emboldened by their numbers, the rats firmly main-
tained their ground ; and though the dogs had killed many
of them, they were nearly overpowered when the men came
Stheir •ssistance. Even after the arrival of the men and
lits, the rats did not retreat ; they held their ground, un-
beaten away with sticks. The dogs were severely bitten
in several places; so much so that one of them, on the neat
day, could hardly walk. This is the first instance we have
ever beard of in which thole noxious vermin have fought
with dog,: though then or• well-attested cases on record
et their attack! eildibilt Owl even grown-up persons.—
"Meer •

NEWMARKET FIRST SPRLNG MEETING.

BETTING UP TO 9 O'CLOCK LAST NIGHT.
ONE 1110066141) GUINEAS STAKES.
sto 4 apt Iris I Sto 4 apt Aphrodite
MP.
6to 1 apt Rhesus CHESTER
29 to 1 apt Montague '
10 to 1 Kussborough 25 to l Sauter la Coupe
11 to 1 Hats Doctor 30 to 1 W, olgich
14 to 1 Hallam (t) 83 to 1 Knight of Awed
16 to 1 Mewl 40 to 1 Clarissa
29 to I Harioot
DE ST.
6 to 1 apt Prime Minister 16 to I apt Msrlborough Rock
6to 1 Teddington 29 to Theseus (t freely)
7 to 1 Hernandez 33 to 1 Newham
12 to I Mountain Per Se to I Sono
ENTRIES FOR THURSDAY.
QUEEN'S PLATE R.C.—Uriel, 6 yrs: Nutcracker, 4 yrs;
Ft shill, 6 yes; Little Jack, 4 yrs ; Cariboo, 4 yrs; Drome-
dary colt, 4 yrs.
SWEEPSTAKEL—First half of Ab. M. Winner to be sold
for 801., &c.—Alboni, Guy Mannering, and Julia.
SWEEPSTAKES. T.Y.C. Winner to be sold fur 1201.,
&c.—Trinket, Edward of York, and Christina.
LATEST BETTING.—(TIIIB DAY.)
(By Electric Telegraph.)
1,090 GUINEAS STAKES.
Even on Aphrodite I Bto I apt Amps*
6 to 4 apt Iris

MONEY MARKET.

THIS DAY.

Two o'Ciocit.
The English stock market has again been very
dull all day, and prices have scarcely maintained
yesterday's range, the result of the weekly meeting
of the Bank Board being looked to by some with a
certain amount of uneasiness. The Board,however, has
just broken up, and, as we anticipated would be the
case, without making any change in the rate of dis-
count. Business, especially of a speculative nature,
has naturally been kept in check by the uncertainty
which prevailed ; indeed scarcely a single time bar-
pin has taken place in Consols to-day.
Consols have been stationary all morning at 971
to for money, and 97,, for the 13th of May.
The official report of actual bargains is: Three per
Cent. Consols, 971, 4 ; do. for Acct., 97, Three per
Cent. lteduced, New Three-and-a-Quarter
per Cents., 'J7I, 98.! Long Annuities, 1860, 71, 5-16;
ditto, 30 years, 1859, 7-16, 1. Bank Stock, 2111.
The market for unfunded securities is quiet, but
isteady. Exchequer Bills, 1,0001., mark 575. and
641. prem. India Bonds, I,OOOE, 625. and 61s. pm.
The market for foreign bonds has remained very
quiet, with prices well maintained. Mexican Bonds
and Spanish Actives have realised rather better
prices. The business list of the day comprises only:
Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents., at 591; ditto
Four per Cent. Certificates, 90. Mexican Bonds,
1; ditto for the account of 30th April, 351,
l'oitaguese Five per Cents. (Brazilian guarantee),
$9. Russian Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 991. Spa-
nish Active Five per Cents., for account, 19,1, ;
ditto Passive, 31, ; ditto Three per Cents., 391.
The receipt of intelligence by the Madrid
steamer from Lisbon, which has been pub-
lished this morning in a second edition of tho
Doily News (and which will be found in another
column). has not led to any movement in Portuguese
Bonds, which have remained very quiet.
It will be observed that the Belgian Four-and-a-
Half per Cents. which were dealt in yesterday rank 5
per emit. lower than the Russian Four-and-a-Half
per Cents., which are nearly at par. This arises
from the strong want of confidence in Belgian admi-
nistration, on account of their illiberality and injus-
tice wth regard to the caution monies and conces-
sions cf the Great Luxembourg, Dendrc Valley,
Belgian Eastern Junction, and West Flanders Rail-
ways, in which so many English shareholders are
interested.
Business in Bank Shares has been very limited
this week, but prices are supported. The sales re-
ported are :—British North American (501. paid),
431; Union of Australia (25/. paid), 341, 33 ; ditto,
(21. 10s. paid), 31; Union of London (10/. paid), 121.
Dock Shares continue to meet with a fair amount

of business at former rates. Commercial shares
mark 84; East and West India, 145 ; London, 113 ;
St. Katharine. 75 t, 76; Southampton, 15.
In the market for Steamboat Shares, to which a
good deal of attention has of late been directed, there
its a decline in Peninsular and Oriental, and a rise
in Royal Mail Steam. The prices noted are :
General Steam Navigation, 28 ex die. ; Peninsular
and Oriental, 66, 67, 65t, 66, 63; ditto, New (5/.
'paid), 111, 11, ; Royal Mail Steam, 75, 77, 78 ex
I div. ; Eastern% Steam, tto prem.
Amongst miscellaneous shares the following have
been dealt ia:—Anglo-Mexican Mint, 201; ditto,
Half Shares, 6. British American Laud, 14:1. Ca-
-1 nada Company, 47. Hudson's Bay Stock, 203. Price's
Patent Candle Company, 21, 23. South Australian,
241. Van Meman's Land, 1, 2.
Insurance shares have undergone no change since
our last wceldy report. Comity shares arc quoted at
80, with the dividend off; and English and Scottish
Law Life, at 2t.
Equitable Reversionary Shares have been trans-
acted at 1091; do. New t2l. 10s. paid), 2I• ' General
Reversionary and Investment, 911; Reversionary
Interest Society , 100.
The amount of bills drawn by the East India Com-
pany on thei respective presidencies, from the 6th
to the 23rd inst., is as follows :
Rate of exchange.
Bengal .... £110,412 9 j 712 x. Id. per CO.'S rupee.
'Madras .... 14,132 16 0
Bombay .... 305 0 0 26. lid. per ditto.
Total £124,830 5 7

The entire amount drawn since the ith January
is 641,1139/. Is. al.. whilst the sum required by the
company for,remittanects during the year 1.851-2 has
been advertised as 3,000,010., all of which they ex.
pectcd to realise by the sale of their bills.
A meetingwas held yesterday of the General Screw
Steam Shippeg Company, at which the new regula-
tions for nosing additional capital were fully con-
firmed.
The following letter front Mr. Ahitbol refers to a
paint of gre interest to the Mexican bondholders.
Tt will be of some benefit if Lord Palmerston has
allowed Sir Henry Bulwer to apply to the United
States government for the acceptance of the Mexican
drafts, but many consider that the committee should
have sent some one out by the packet yesterday, as
the cost could not have been more than 200/., and
time is of value. It was expected Mr. Falconnet
would have sent his secretary direct front Mexico to
Washington, with the triplicate of the decree.
PIER HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDE STERLING MEXICAN
DIVIDEND MONET, RECEIVED BY TIIR HIGHT HONOUR-
ABLE LORD PALIIISIISTON.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY NEWS.
Sir,—You will be rendering an important service to the
public if you will he pleased to insert in the columns of your
valuable jorinal the following explanations relating to this
subject.
A considerable number of persons interested in the
Mt:icon Stork, and more especially those residing in the
country, not being precisely informed as to the actual situa-
tion of this money, and labouring under an impression,
from the reports circulated, that the funds in question are
not available until 18.51, renders it desirable to bring to
their knowledge that the form in which this money is
money-613 y an assignment of the Mexican government
on the Untied States—is perfectly practicable to be con-
Tined into ash within one month, by the medium of nego-
tiation or discount front 4 to 5 per cent., and that as this
money forms a part of the indemnity claim due from the
American government to Mexico, under a solemn treaty
already authorised and ratified by the COMPINIE Red Siesta
of the Unite& State., it admits Ono question whatevsraa to
requiring any second ratification as to its effective liqui-
dation.
The one month stated is the period it would take to ob-
tain from thz government of the United States its formal
confirmation and acceptance of transferring the said sum of
money in farour of the bondholders, or to such house they
may so authorise to receive the same in their behalf, by
virtue of, and in accordance with, the assignment now in
the hands of the noble Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
This amount of the 2,600,000 dole. will yield, after de-
ducting 6 per cent. discount for immediate cash, a dividend
of 41. 16e. per cent., and by, the let July next the further
dividend of 11. 10s. per cent will be available, kinethei
tether 61.65. on every 10W. bond ; on account of the lake
97,0001. is now deposited at the Bank, and the innilleneen
=arils of stay, Jose, end Inky, win arm the
MOAN: aupdred. ' '

The expected arrival of Senor Payno, the late Minister
of Finance, by the mail of the sth May, will carry into
effect the conversion and the dividends.
I need scarcely add, that the good faith observed in this
honourable conduct of the Mexican government, in the ful-
filment of its treaty of the settlement of the foreign debt.
warrants every confidence in respect of the future

_
engagements.
I have the honour to be, sir, your very obedient servant,
London, April 23, 19.51. M. AlliTllol..
P.S.-It is a matter of no doubt that steps arc now taken
by the interference and influence of Lord Palmerston, to
obtain, through the British Ambassador in America, the
consent or acceptance of the assignment in question.
A bill has tossed one branch of the legislature of
the state of 'sew York, and will probably soon be-
come law, providing for the immediate prosecution
of the enlargement of the Eric Canal. The amount
required to complete the works would be about
8,000,000 dole. As by the provisions of the new
constitution no new loans can be created upon a
pledge of the faith of the state, without a vote of the
I people, it is proposed to issue certificates bearing 6
per cent. interest, secured only by a pledge of
the surplus revenues of the canals, set apart
according to the constitution for that purpose
and involving no responsibility on the part of the
state beyond that of faithfully applying the revenues,
as they accrue, to the payment of the interest and
principal of the certificates thus issued, which the
law makes available for deposit with the comp-
troller as security for bank notes. The amount of
the loan required annually will be 2,000,000 dole.
The latest quotations of exchange on London at
foreign places are as follows:
Previous Latest
Quotations. Qnotations.
Antwerp (short) 25f.07} 25f. 071
Augsburg (1 month) 911. d 3 WI. 42
Berlin
Brussels (short)
Charleston
Christiana(3 months) 4.62 4.61-63
Florence (3 months) 291. 90 291. 8.5
Havana
Mobile lOBl 1091 10
New York
Naples 563 663
New Orleans
Paris (short)
ditto (3 months)
Philadelphia
Riga
Rome
SanFrancisen(short) 49d. 48.1..50d.
ditto (60 (Lys)
St.Petersburg(3 ino)37 11-16 d. 13-1131. 371 d. Isl. 11-16 d.
Sydney
1 neste l3ll. 13H.
Vienna
10.1.11.114 H VUNDS.-Tats bay.
lass .wet, 211 12 3 me Ct.itm. Am.. 971 i
3mr Ct. Rat 5 ,_9CI I 39 1.0 01. 971 8
3.4 r 01.(kit.Atai.4 271 1 Lsolimimir W... 445. to 675.
.iiitICIGN let Niiii.
. per 01. AtPttraut Bets.o., 1 ver IX Ormada blo. 164 17
it ow Ct. 11..i.t. Iso.el. I'S 4 , ,)re.et.ls Itattrreot ILI.. 49 II
Apr Cott,- 5 trr et 5105 11.1... 359 9
144 et.iiritalliso ILI, 4890 Pertttiap Ikls 441 59
Ulm sow. 24 I Yor,..eitmi. Cunt mtol 33 3
A Dm 41. Hume.. Atm. 64 I 4 per CL Ito.. 111..,111 112
601.0. Mimi 11e., 144 4 Cub Sputlith .t.t... 114
Irian CqPitttb. Pet II p..- • 3 per Ct. gpl4llSh Itlek. 9
11.4001 ALA I,,iiim gar I' Is.. 24 4 110. iiinferre.l 11.1..., -
3,
CT lit.. I,oe, 111.. 76 NW.
rihowre 1i1... 5/ 4
i oar ,'t. thitell Mr.: Ili ,111-er ~ Veseaseri.i ists. 32 3
4... et. alp, Cm, IS , t ...vie. i...fierrui ''outs. l' 13

COMMERCIAL_ AND MARKETS.
-
MINCING-LANE—THIS PAY.
SCOAIL—The public sale of Port Rico went of well at
full prices; the large sale of 7,000 bags Manilla was bought
in by the importer at a high price. The refined market is
very firm, and the supply of goods ready for delivery has
become small Grocery lumps 48s. to SON.
Cl/PFEIL—Mc public sales are going off steadily, at full
prices. Good ordinary native Ceylon is quoted 41s. fed. to
425.
TEA.—The market is not active, but prices arc firm.
Rtes.-1,300 bags Bengal were offered iu public sale,
and chiefly bought in at lOR.
SALTPETItE.-7•10 bags offered, and chiefly sold, at rather
irregular prices. Refraction 31 to 6, fine, 19s. to 295. 6d. ;
refraction 71 sold at '2ss.
Rust continues (lull.
Corrots.—The: public sales, amounting to 1,000 bags,
were nearly all withdrawn, for want of buyers at previous
rates.
In other articles no material alteration.
TALLOW MAItKET.—THIS DAY.
The market is rather WOISC today, at the following re-
duced range of quotations: Peterdiurg Y. C. on the spot,
395. April, 38.. 9d. to 395.; April and May, 38s. 6d. ; lust
three months, 395. to 395. 3d.

SMITHFIELD HAY MAIIKET.—THIS DAY.
Messrs. Cooper and Davis report a heavy trade, at the
following quotation. : Prime meadow Hay, ROs. to 00s.;
inferior ditto, fsii. to 72.. ; Rowen, 655. to 7th. ; Clover,
739. to 995. ; second cut, 70s. to Wk. ; straw, 265. to 395.